WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 4706

A bill to amend section 1977A of the Revised Statues to equalize the remedies available under that section and to amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 to provide any legal or equitable relief available under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

119th Congress Introduced by Ed Markey

The bill would align and expand remedies for section 1977A and ADEA claims to include Title VII–like relief, standardizing damages, back/front pay, and fees across statutes.

Introduced in Senate
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 4706

Overview

S. 4706 (119th Congress) is a Senate bill introduced in June 2026, sponsored with a co-sponsor by Ed Markey. The measure seeks to align remedies under a specific civil rights provision with those available under other antidiscrimination statutes, and to extend available relief in employment discrimination cases to mirror relief under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Purpose and Intent

  • Equalize remedies under section 1977A of the Revised Statutes (which governs certain civil rights claims) with the remedies available under other federal civil rights protections.
  • Provide any legal or equitable relief that is available under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for claims addressed under the bill, ensuring parity in enforcement and relief options across related statutes.

Key Provisions (as described by the bill)

  • Amend section 1977A of the Revised Statutes to harmonize the remedies available for violations under that section with the remedies available under comparable civil rights provisions.
  • Amend the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) to authorize any legal or equitable relief that is available under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 for violations tied to the ADEA, ensuring that remedies in age discrimination cases can include the full spectrum of relief provided under Title VII.
  • The combined effect is to broaden and standardize post-violation remedies (e.g., damages, injunctive relief, back pay, front pay, liquidated damages where applicable, attorney’s fees, and other equitable relief) across these civil rights statutes.

Affected Parties and Impacts

  • Individuals alleging discrimination or civil rights violations governed by:
    • Section 1977A claims (as clarified and equalized by the amendment)
    • The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) claims
  • Employers and entities subject to these statutes would face amended statutory remedies, potentially expanding the scope of relief available to plaintiffs.
  • The changes could affect federal courts’ procedural handling of these claims, including how relief is sought and awarded.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Action History:
    • Introduced in the Senate and referred on 2026-06-08 to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).
    • Read twice and referred to HELP on the same date.
  • Next steps (if enacted) would involve committee consideration, potential amendments, floor debate, and votes in both chambers, followed by reconciliation if needed and presidential signature.

Practical Implications

  • If enacted, litigants could pursue a fuller set of remedies for violations under the amended provisions, mirroring Title VII relief structures within ADEA cases and those under section 1977A.
  • The bill strengthens protections by reducing disparities in available relief among federal civil rights statutes and clarifying that Title VII-like remedies are available in related discrimination contexts.

Notes

  • The summary reflects the bill’s stated objectives to equalize remedies under section 1977A and to extend Title VII-like relief to ADEA claims.
  • Specific dollar values, caps, or detailed procedural rules would be defined in the text of the amendments themselves.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.