Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110
§2000ff–6 Remedies and Enforcement
Title 42 › CHAPTER 21F — PROHIBITING EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF GENETIC INFORMATION › § 2000ff–6
Summary
Gives people covered by several federal worker-protection laws the same ways to enforce their rights. Workers covered by Title VII, the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, chapter 5 of title 3, or section 717 of the Civil Rights Act get the same powers, procedures, and remedies that those laws give to agencies or private people who bring claims. It also says that legal costs can be recovered under 42 U.S.C. §1988(b) and (c), and that damages follow 42 U.S.C. §1981a, including the limit in §1981a(b)(3) and the exclusions in §1981a(a)(1). For claims under the Congressional Accountability Act, title III of that Act also applies. No one may punish or treat someone badly for opposing a practice made illegal here or for filing a charge, testifying, helping, or taking part in an investigation or hearing. The same remedies apply for those retaliation claims. "Commission" means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §2000ff–6
The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)Employees covered by title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(1)In general
The powers, procedures, and remedies provided in section 705, 706, 707, 709, 710, and 711 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 [42 U.S.C. 2000e–4 to 2000e–6, 2000e–8 to 2000e–10] to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, alleging a violation of title VII of that Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.) shall be the powers, procedures, and remedies this chapter provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this chapter against an employee described in section 2000ff(2)(A)(i) of this title, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)Costs and fees
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 1988 of this title, shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, alleging such a practice.
(3)Damages
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1981a of this title, including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1981a, shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1981a(a)(1) of this title).
(b)Employees covered by Government Employee Rights Act of 1991
(1)In general
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 302 and 304 of the Government Employee Rights Act of 1991 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16b, 2000e–16c) to the Commission, or any person, alleging a violation of section 302(a)(1) of that Act (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16b(a)(1)) shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this chapter against an employee described in section 2000ff(2)(A)(ii) of this title, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)Costs and fees
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 1988 of this title,1 shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, or any person, alleging such a practice.
(3)Damages
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1981a of this title, including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1981a, shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1981a(a)(1) of this title).
(c)Employees covered by Congressional Accountability Act of 1995
(1)In general
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) to the Board (as defined in section 101 of that Act (2 U.S.C. 1301)), or any person, alleging a violation of section 201(a)(1) of that Act [2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)] shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to that Board, or any person, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this chapter against an employee described in section 2000ff(2)(A)(iii) of this title, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)Costs and fees
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 1988 of this title,1 shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to that Board, or any person, alleging such a practice.
(3)Damages
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1981a of this title, including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1981a, shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to that Board, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1981a(a)(1) of this title).
(4)Other applicable provisions
With respect to a claim alleging a practice described in paragraph (1), title III of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1381 et seq.) shall apply in the same manner as such title applies with respect to a claim alleging a violation of section 201(a)(1) of such Act (2 U.S.C. 1311(a)(1)).
(d)Employees covered by chapter 5 of title 3
(1)In general
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in chapter 5 of title 3 to the President, the Commission, the Merit Systems Protection Board, or any person, alleging a violation of section 411(a)(1) of that title, shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the President, the Commission, such Board, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this chapter against an employee described in section 2000ff(2)(A)(iv) of this title, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)Costs and fees
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 1988 of this title,1 shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the President, the Commission, such Board, or any person, alleging such a practice.
(3)Damages
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1981a of this title, including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1981a, shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the President, the Commission, such Board, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1981a(a)(1) of this title).
(e)Employees covered by section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
(1)In general
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 717 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e–16) to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, alleging a violation of that section shall be the powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, respectively, alleging an unlawful employment practice in violation of this chapter against an employee or applicant described in section 2000ff(2)(A)(v) of this title, except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3).
(2)Costs and fees
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in subsections (b) and (c) of section 1988 of this title,1 shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, alleging such a practice.
(3)Damages
The powers, remedies, and procedures provided in section 1981a of this title, including the limitations contained in subsection (b)(3) of such section 1981a, shall be powers, remedies, and procedures this chapter provides to the Commission, the Attorney General, the Librarian of Congress, or any person, alleging such a practice (not an employment practice specifically excluded from coverage under section 1981a(a)(1) of this title).
(f)Prohibition against retaliation
No person shall discriminate against any individual because such individual has opposed any act or practice made unlawful by this chapter or because such individual made a charge, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this chapter. The remedies and procedures otherwise provided for under this section shall be available to aggrieved individuals with respect to violations of this subsection.
(g)Definition
In this section, the term “Commission” means the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Civil Rights Act of 1964, referred to in subsec. (a), is Pub. L. 88–352, July 2, 1964, 78 Stat. 241. Title VII of the Act is classified generally to subchapter VI (§ 2000e et seq.) of chapter 21 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 2000a of this title and Tables. The Government Employee Rights Act of 1991, referred to in subsec. (b), is title III of Pub. L. 102–166, Nov. 21, 1991, 105 Stat. 1088, which is classified generally to sections 2000e–16a to 2000e–16c of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see section 2000e–16a(a) of Title 42 and Tables. The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, referred to in subsec. (c)(1), (4), is Pub. L. 104–1, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 3, which is classified principally to chapter 24 (§ 1301 et seq.) of Title 2, The Congress. Title III of the Act is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1381 et seq.) of chapter 24 of Title 2. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note under section 1301 of Title 2 and Tables.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 18 months after May 21, 2008, see section 213 of Pub. L. 110–233, set out as a note under section 2000ff of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 2000ff–6
Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Sep 23, 2026
Release point: 119-110