[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 4, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E18]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                 INTRODUCTION OF THE EQUAL REMEDIES ACT

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                        HON. BARBARA B. KENNELLY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, January 4, 1995
  Mrs. KENNELLY. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing legislation to 
correct a serious inequity in civil rights legislation, created by the 
passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1991. While that bill represented 
significant progress in the ongoing battle to overcome discrimination, 
it also created a two-tiered system of justice.
  Under the current law, victims of intentional racial discrimination 
are entitled to unlimited damages. However, victims of discrimination 
based on disability, sex or religion can receive damages only up to a 
statutory maximum. Just as I strongly support the right to seek 
unlimited damages for racial discrimination, I also support this 
redress for victims of other types of discrimination as well.
  That is why I am introducing the Equal Remedies Act of 1995. This 
bill would eliminate caps on damages set by the Civil Rights Act of 
1991 and send the strong message that discrimination of any kind cannot 
be tolerated by our society. It is time to make all victims of 
discrimination equal under the law--second-class remedies have no place 
in anti-discrimination law.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  

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