Equality Act
Sponsored By: Representative Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
Introduced
Summary
Adds sexual orientation and gender identity to the federal definition of sex and creates a uniform, nationwide nondiscrimination framework across employment, housing, credit, education, public accommodations, jury service, and programs that receive federal funds. The bill would harmonize definitions, remedies, and rules of construction across multiple civil rights statutes to make enforcement and claims more consistent.
Show full summary
- Workers: Private and federal employees would gain explicit protection from discrimination for sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill would update Title VII rules, expand remedies, and adjust bona fide occupational qualification rules to account for gender identity.
- People using public places, students, and tenants: Public accommodations and education laws would explicitly bar discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The Fair Housing Act would adopt the same definitions and protections to cover renters and buyers.
- Borrowers, juries, and enforcement: The Equal Credit Opportunity Act would bar credit discrimination on these bases. Jury selection rules would be updated to prevent discrimination. The bill would also prevent the Religious Freedom Restoration Act from being used to challenge enforcement under the covered civil rights laws.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Stronger job protections for LGBTQ workers
If enacted, this would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal job discrimination rules. Employers would need to treat workers as qualified in line with their gender identity when sex is a job requirement. It would apply to private and federal jobs. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Single federal rules for sex and gender
If enacted, this would set one federal definition for sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It would say sex includes pregnancy, sex stereotypes, and sex traits, and would bar using RFRA as a defense in covered civil‑rights cases. People would not be denied access to shared facilities consistent with their gender identity. These rules would apply across major civil‑rights laws and be extended to federal workers, congressional staff, and jurors. Changes would take effect upon enactment.
Fair credit rules for LGBTQ borrowers
If enacted, lenders would be barred from denying credit or changing terms because of sexual orientation or gender identity. The bill’s definitions would apply to all parts of a credit deal. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
No discrimination in stores and services
If enacted, this would ban discrimination in public places because of sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity. It would cover stores, online sellers, banks, shelters, health care, travel, and transportation. An “establishment” would include individuals and not be limited to a physical place. These rules would take effect upon enactment.
Housing protections for LGBTQ renters and buyers
If enacted, this would add sexual orientation and gender identity to Fair Housing Act protections. Landlords, sellers, and housing services could not deny, harass, or intimidate based on these traits. It would use the bill’s unified definitions. These changes would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Crockett
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Crow
CO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Wilson (FL)
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/26/2025
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Aguilar
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]
RI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Auchincloss
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
VT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Barragan
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Bishop
GA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Bonamici
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Budzinski
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Carson
IN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Casten
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Castro (TX)
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Cisneros
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Clark (MA)
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Clyburn
SC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Cohen
TN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Conaway
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Connolly
VA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Costa
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Craig
MN • D
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Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]
CO • D
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Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
DelBene
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
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Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
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Elfreth
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Escobar
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Friedman
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]
CA • D
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Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]
TX • D
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Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
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Rep. Gillen, Laura [D-NY-4]
NY • D
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Rep. Golden, Jared F. [D-ME-2]
ME • D
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Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
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Gomez
CA • D
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Gonzalez, V.
TX • D
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Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
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Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
NJ • D
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Gray
CA • D
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Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
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Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]
CA • D
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Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
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Rescom. Hernández, Pablo Jose [D-PR-At Large]
PR • D
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Himes
CT • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]
NV • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
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Hoyer
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]
OR • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]
CA • D
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Ivey
MD • D
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Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Jeffries
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
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Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9]
OH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Keating
MA • D
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Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
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Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
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Khanna
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]
OH • D
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Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
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Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]
CT • D
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Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
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Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
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Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]
NV • D
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Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]
NM • D
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Levin
CA • D
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Liccardo
CA • D
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Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]
CA • D
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Lofgren
CA • D
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Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
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Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
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Mannion
NY • D
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Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
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McBath
GA • D
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McBride
DE • D
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Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
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McClellan
VA • D
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McCollum
MN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-MI-8]
MI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]
KY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
McGovern
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6]
NY • D
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Mfume
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]
MN • D
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Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Mrvan
IN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Mullin
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Neal
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Norcross
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-MD-2]
MD • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Pallone
NJ • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Pelosi
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]
WA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Peters
CA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
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Pingree
ME • D
Sponsored 4/29/2025
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
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Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
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Rep. Pou, Nellie [D-NJ-9]
NJ • D
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Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
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Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]
IL • D
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Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
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Randall
WA • D
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Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]
MD • D
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Riley (NY)
NY • D
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Rep. Rivas, Luz M. [D-CA-29]
CA • D
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Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
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Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
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Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
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Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
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Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38]
CA • D
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Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
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Schakowsky
IL • D
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Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
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Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
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Schrier
WA • D
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Scott (VA)
VA • D
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Scott, David
GA • D
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Sewell
AL • D
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Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]
CA • D
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Sherrill
NJ • D
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Simon
CA • D
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Smith (WA)
WA • D
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Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
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Soto
FL • D
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Stansbury
NM • D
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Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]
AZ • D
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Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]
MI • D
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Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
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Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]
VA • D
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Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3]
NY • D
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Swalwell
CA • D
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Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
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Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
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Thompson (CA)
CA • D
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Thompson (MS)
MS • D
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Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
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Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
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Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
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Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
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Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
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Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35]
CA • D
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Trahan
MA • D
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Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]
CA • D
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Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14]
IL • D
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Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]
CA • D
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Rep. Vasquez, Gabe [D-NM-2]
NM • D
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Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]
VA • D
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Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]
FL • D
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Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]
CA • D
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Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]
NJ • D
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Grijalva
AZ • D
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Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
TX • D
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Mejia
NJ • D
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Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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