I 111th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 4376 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 16, 2009 Mr. Israel (for himself, Mr. Frank of Massachusetts, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Polis of Colorado, Mr. Serrano, Mr. Moran of Virginia, Mr. Hastings of Florida, Mr. Grijalva, Mr. Towns, Mr. Ackerman, Mr. Weiner, Mr. Gutierrez, Mr. Honda, Mr. Capuano, Ms. Speier, Mr. Crowley, Ms. Pingree of Maine, Mr. Nadler of New York, Ms. Watson, Mrs. Maloney, Mr. Quigley, Mr. Sablan, Ms. Sutton, Mr. Sherman, Mrs. Capps, Ms. Berkley, Ms. Linda T. Sánchez of California, Mr. Peters, Ms. Zoe Lofgren of California, Mr. Waxman, Ms. Lee of California, Ms. Wasserman Schultz, Mr. Engel, Mr. Olver, Mr. Andrews, Mr. Hinchey, Mr. Luján, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Wu, Ms. Clarke, Ms. Chu, Mr. McGovern, Mr. Clay, Mr. Tonko, and Mr. Murphy of Connecticut) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services A BILL To amend the Equal Credit Opportunity Act to prohibit discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity when extending credit.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Freedom from Discrimination in Credit Act of 2009.

2.

Prohibition against discrimination on account of sexual orientation or gender identity

Subsection (a)(1) of section 701 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691) is amended— (1)by striking on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status,; and (2)by inserting on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status,.

3.

Definitions

Section 702 of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (15 U.S.C. 1691a) is amended— (1)by striking subsections (f) and (g); and (2)by inserting after subsection (e) the following new subsections: (f)The term gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, or mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual’s designated sex at birth. (g)The term person means a natural person, a corporation, government or governmental subdivision or agency, trust, estate, partnership, cooperative, or association. (h)The term sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality. (i)Any reference to any requirement imposed under this title or any provision of this title shall be deemed to include a reference to the regulations of the Board under this title or the provision of this title in question. .