Bill Summary
The "Restoring Biological Truth to the Workplace Act" is a proposed amendment to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This legislation aims to prohibit discrimination against employees based on their expression related to the binary or biological nature of sex.
Key provisions include:
1. **Prohibition of Unlawful Employment Practices**: Employers would be prohibited from taking adverse employment actions against employees for engaging in "covered expression," which is defined as any expression—whether through speech, writing, or other forms—that describes, asserts, or reinforces the binary nature of sex. This includes the use of pronouns and the ownership of items that contain such expressions.
2. **Protection of Single-Sex Areas**: Employers would also be barred from discriminating against employees who request or use single-sex facilities, such as bathrooms or changing areas, emphasizing a right to privacy.
3. **No Defense Based on Job Necessity**: The legislation states that employers cannot justify discriminatory practices by claiming they are job-related or necessary for business operations.
4. **Anti-Retaliation Provisions**: The act strengthens protections against retaliation for employees who assert their rights under this new provision, ensuring that employees cannot be punished for engaging in covered expression or for using single-sex facilities.
Overall, this legislation seeks to reinforce certain views on gender and sex in the workplace, explicitly protecting employees' rights to express these views without fear of discrimination or retaliation.
Possible Impacts
The proposed "Restoring Biological Truth to the Workplace Act" could affect people in several significant ways:
1. **Employment Protections for Expressing Biological Views**: Employees who express views that align with a binary understanding of sex could feel more secure in their positions, knowing that they are protected from discrimination based on such expressions. This could lead to a more open dialogue about gender and biological sex in the workplace, but it may also create tension with those who advocate for a more fluid understanding of gender identity.
2. **Access to Single-Sex Facilities**: The legislation explicitly protects employees' rights to request and use single-sex areas, such as bathrooms and changing rooms, based on their biological sex. This could lead to increased access for individuals who identify as female or male and prefer these facilities, potentially affecting workplace dynamics and discussions around inclusivity for transgender individuals, who may feel marginalized or excluded from single-sex spaces.
3. **Retaliation Protections**: The amendment to the retaliation provisions of the Civil Rights Act could empower employees to speak out against perceived discrimination without fear of retribution. This protection could encourage more individuals to voice their opinions or concerns about gender-related issues in the workplace, but it may also lead to conflicts or divisions among staff regarding differing beliefs about gender and sex, depending on the workplace culture and the perspectives of employees.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4554 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4554
To amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit
discrimination against employees on the basis of expression that
describes, asserts, or reinforces the binary or biological nature of
sex.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 21, 2025
Mr. Steube (for himself, Ms. Mace, Mr. Moore of Alabama, and Mr.
McDowell) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit
discrimination against employees on the basis of expression that
describes, asserts, or reinforces the binary or biological nature of
sex.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Restoring Biological Truth to the
Workplace Act''.
SEC. 2. PROHIBITED UNLAWFUL EMPLOYMENT ACTION.
Section 703 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-2) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
``(o)(1) It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an
employer to take an action described in subsection (a) because an
employee engages in covered expression, that describes, asserts, or
reinforces the binary or biological nature of sex. For purposes of this
paragraph, the term `covered expression' means expression, inside or
outside of a workplace, through means including speech, writing, or a
depiction, or owning or using an item that contains speech, writing, or
a depiction, and includes the use of pronouns.
``(2) It shall be an unlawful employment practice for an employer
to take an action described in subsection (a) because an employee
requests or uses a single-sex area that is a bathroom, changing area,
or other area where physical privacy is desirable.
``(3) It shall not be a defense to the use of a practice described
in paragraph (1) or (2) that use of the practice is job related for the
position in question or consistent with business necessity.''.
SEC. 3. PROHIBITED RETALIATION.
Section 704(a) of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e-
3(a)) is amended by inserting ``, including an unlawful employment
practice prohibited under section 703(o)'' after ``by this title''.
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