PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 763.
Congressional Research Service
Version 01 · Reported to Senate with amendment(s) · Nov 15, 2002
Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2002 - (Sec. 4) Prohibits employment agencies, labor organizations, and training programs from engaging in specified unlawful employment practices (discrimination) based upon sexual orientation.Provides that only disparate treatment claims may be brought under this Act. Prohibits retaliation and coercion based upon any action taken by an individual under this Act.Declares this Act inapplicable to the provision of employee benefits to an individual for the benefit of such individual's domestic partner.(Sec. 7) Prohibits the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from collecting or compelling collection of statistics on sexual orientation from an employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee ("covered entity").(Sec. 8) Prohibits a covered entity from: (1) adopting or implementing a quota on the basis of sexual orientation; or (2) granting preferential treatment on the basis of sexual orientation.(Sec. 9) States that this Act shall not apply to: (1) a religious organization; (2) members of the Armed Forces; or (3) any law creating a special right or preference concerning employment for a veteran.(Sec. 11) States that this Act shall not be construed to prohibit any association, or infringe upon any right of association, of any nonprofit, voluntary membership organization (as guaranteed by the first amendment to the Constitution).(Sec. 12) Specifies procedures and remedies under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to enforce this Act. Prohibits imposition of affirmative action for a violation of this Act.(Sec. 13) Denies the States immunity under the 11th amendment to the U.S. Constitution from suit brought in Federal court for a violation of this Act.States that a State's use of Federal funds for a State activity shall constitute a waiver of State sovereign immunity if suit is brought by an aggrieved party for a remedy authorized under this Act.Makes the United States or a State liable for remedies to the same extent as under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but denies punitive damages. Limits compensatory damages and attorneys' fees.
People & committees
Sen. Kennedy, Edward M. [D-MA] · D–MA
Legislative record
A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 763.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-341. Minority views filed.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Kennedy with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 107-341. Minority views filed.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 107-307.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8480)
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.
Source last updated: Feb 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
AI Conversation Starters
Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.
Analyze S.1284 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.
Examine S.1284 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.
Examine S.1284 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.
Examine S.1284 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.