Edward Markey (D-MA)
Equal Remedies Act of 2026
A Democratic bill with no cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is called the Equal Remedies Act of 2026. It is designed to change certain rules regarding remedies for discrimination. Specifically, it amends section 1977A of the Revised Statutes and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967. The bill allows compensatory damages for emotional pain, suffering, and other nonpecuniary losses. It also ensures that any party may demand a jury trial under that section. Finally, it provides individuals alleging age discrimination with the legal or equitable relief available under title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Yes· 3 of 22
- Scored +7
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to provide full legal and equitable relief under title VII.
- Scored +7
Would retired people be better off under this?
Strongly benefits older workers and retirees through enhanced age discrimination protections.
- Scored +7
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill grants any party the right to demand a jury trial in discrimination cases.
The opposite
- Scored -3
Would business owners be better off under this?
Increases potential liability and damages employers may face in discrimination lawsuits.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Section 2 allows compensatory damages for past and future pecuniary losses, emotional pain, suffering, inconvenience, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and other nonpecuniary losses. This is positive because it gives people a way to recover for emotional and other non-money harms they have suffered.
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Section 2 also states that any party may demand a jury trial. This is positive because it gives people the right to have their case decided by a jury.
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Section 3 updates 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. This is positive because it helps people facing age discrimination get access to the same kinds of relief available under other major civil rights laws.
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Potential Negative Impacts for People
- The provided text does not contain any specific sections or provisions that outline negative consequences or burdens for individuals or groups of people in the United States.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — Strongly benefits older workers and retirees through enhanced age discrimination protections. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — Amends the Age Discrimination in Employment Act to provide full legal and equitable relief under title VII. Would people in middle age be better off under this? — Significantly improves protections and remedies for workers facing age discrimination. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Expands compensatory damages and jury trial access for discrimination plaintiffs. Would women be better off under this? — Enhances remedies for nonpecuniary losses and emotional pain in discrimination cases. Would Black Americans be better off under this? — Expands available compensatory damages and jury trial rights for discrimination claims. Would Asian Americans be better off under this? — Expands available compensatory damages and jury trial rights for discrimination claims. Would Hispanic Americans be better off under this? — Expands available compensatory damages and jury trial rights for discrimination claims. Would LGBTQ people be better off under this? — Strengthens civil rights remedies available to victims of unlawful discrimination. Would men be better off under this? — Provides equal access to enhanced remedies for discrimination. Would Native Americans be better off under this? — Expands available compensatory damages and jury trial rights for discrimination claims. Would union members be better off under this? — Improves workplace rights and remedies against discrimination for employees. Would white Americans be better off under this? — Expands available compensatory damages and jury trial rights for discrimination claims. Would immigrants be better off under this? — Protects immigrant workers from discrimination with stronger legal remedies. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Helps lower-income workers secure compensation for employment discrimination harms. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Provides stronger legal remedies against unlawful discrimination in the workplace. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — Provides broader civil rights protections early in the workforce. Would business owners be better off under this? — Increases potential liability and damages employers may face in discrimination lawsuits.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this expand the rights of people with disabilities? — Enhanced remedies for discrimination under section 1977A benefit individuals with disabilities. Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill expands compensatory damages and legal remedies for discrimination victims. Does this expand the rights of LGBTQ people? — The bill enhances civil rights protections and remedies available for individuals facing discrimination. Does this narrow racial gaps in how people are treated? — The legislation strengthens remedies for unlawful discrimination under revised statutes.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill grants any party the right to demand a jury trial in discrimination cases.
- 6/8/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
- Introduced in Senate
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.