Congress · Laws

Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments of 1976

Public Law 94-239 · H.R. 6516 · 94th Congress · began in the House

Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Mar 23, 1976 · Finance and Financial Sector

Sponsor: Rep. Frank Annunzio (D-IL-11)

Cosponsors (9): Rep. Leonor Sullivan, Rep. Gladys Spellman,

Passage votesYeaNay

HouseRecorded vote: 384 yea, 3 nay384–3
SenateMethod not stated

Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Equal Credit Opportunity Act Amendments - Adds a new section to title VII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, which shall be entitled the Equal Credit Opportnity Act. Makes it unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant: (1) on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or marital status, or age; (2) because all or part of the applicant's income derives from any public assistance program; or (3) because the applicant has in good faith exercised any right under the Consumer Credit Protection Act. Permits any inquiry into marital status and age under the conditions enumerated in this Act.

Permits creditors to refuse to extend credit offered pursuant to any credit assistance program expressly for an economically disadvantaged class of persons; and pursuant to any special purpose credit program offered by a profitmaking organization to meet special social needs.

Requires creditors to respond to credit applications within 30 days. Entitles each applicant against whom an adverse action is taken to a statement of specific reasons for such refusal.

Exempts from the provisions of the Equal Credit Opportnity Act, any class of transactions not primarily for personal, family, or household purposes if it is determined by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System that the application of such provisions would not contribute substantially to carrying out the purposes of such provisions.

Establishes a Consumer Advisory Council to advise and consult with the Board in the exercise of its functions under the Consumer Credit Protection Act.

Imposes actual and punitive damages on creditors who fail to comply with the provisions of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

Provides that no provision of title VII of the Consumer Credit Protection Act, as amended by this Act, imposing liability shall apply to any act done or omitted in good faith in conformity with any official rule, regulation, or interpretation thereof of the Board or in conformity with an interpretation or approval by an official or employee of the System duly authorized by the Board to issue such interpretations or approvals.

Who voted for it

Every House member of the 94th Congress on the ideology compass. Highlighted: the 385 who voted yea on final passage. Faded: everyone else, including those who voted nay, did not vote, or had not yet taken office.

385 yea3 nay44 present or did not vote

Dimension 2

Economic left–right

More liberalMore conservative

Democrats who voted yea(258)

Rep. John ConyersD-MI-1
Rep. Louis StokesD-OH-21
Rep. Pete StarkD-CA-9
Rep. Bella AbzugD-NY-20
Rep. John MossD-CA-3
Rep. Parren MitchellD-MD-7
Rep. James CormanD-CA-21
Rep. Ronald DellumsD-CA-8
Rep. Don EdwardsD-CA-10
Rep. Edward RoybalD-CA-25
Rep. Phillip BurtonD-CA-6
Rep. Andrew YoungD-GA-5
Rep. Yvonne BurkeD-CA-28
Rep. Bill ClayD-MO-1
Rep. Elizabeth HoltzmanD-NY-16
Rep. Shirley ChisholmD-NY-12
Rep. Benjamin RosenthalD-NY-8
Rep. Charlie RangelD-NY-19
Rep. Frank ThompsonD-NJ-4
Rep. James OberstarD-MN-8
Rep. Herman BadilloD-NY-21
Rep. Charles DiggsD-MI-13
Rep. George BrownD-CA-36
Rep. Barbara JordanD-TX-18
Rep. William FordD-MI-15
Rep. Frederick RichmondD-NY-14
Rep. Henry GonzálezD-TX-20
Rep. Harold JohnsonD-CA-1
Rep. Robert EckhardtD-TX-8
Rep. Charles CarneyD-OH-19
Rep. John SeiberlingD-OH-14
Rep. Jonathan BinghamD-NY-22
Rep. John DingellD-MI-16
Rep. John BurtonD-CA-5
Rep. John BrademasD-IN-3
Rep. Patsy MinkD-HI-2
Rep. James ScheuerD-NY-11
Rep. John McFallD-CA-14
Rep. Tip O’NeillD-MA-8
Rep. Charles PriceD-IL-23
Rep. Edward KochD-NY-18
Rep. Joshua EilbergD-PA-4
Rep. Henry ReussD-WI-5
Rep. Joseph AddabboD-NY-7
Rep. Norman MinetaD-CA-13
Rep. Peter RodinoD-NJ-10
Rep. Stephen SolarzD-NY-13
Rep. George MillerD-CA-7
Rep. Henry HelstoskiD-NJ-9
Rep. Lloyd MeedsD-WA-2
Rep. John FaryD-IL-5
Rep. Sidney YatesD-IL-9
Rep. Ray MaddenD-IN-1
Rep. Helen MeynerD-NJ-13
Rep. Edward MezvinskyD-IA-1
Rep. William BrodheadD-MI-17
Rep. Dave ObeyD-WI-7
Rep. Michael HarringtonD-MA-6
Rep. Thomas MorganD-PA-22
Rep. Frank AnnunzioD-IL-11
Rep. John MurphyD-NY-17
Rep. Dominick DanielsD-NJ-14
Rep. Spark MatsunagaD-HI-1
Rep. Fernand St. GermainD-RI-1
Rep. Floyd HicksD-WA-6
Rep. James BurkeD-MA-11
Rep. William LehmanD-FL-13
Rep. Robert DrinanD-MA-4
Rep. Daniel RostenkowskiD-IL-8
Rep. William BurlisonD-MO-10
Rep. Edward PattenD-NJ-15
Rep. Morgan MurphyD-IL-2
Rep. Abner MikvaD-IL-10
Rep. George DanielsonD-CA-30
Rep. James O’HaraD-MI-12
Rep. Edward BeardD-RI-2
Rep. James WeaverD-OR-4
Rep. Claude PepperD-FL-14
Rep. Teno RoncalioD-WY
Rep. Donald FraserD-MN-5
Rep. Charles WilsonD-CA-31
Rep. Daniel FloodD-PA-11
Rep. John DentD-PA-21
Rep. Lucien NedziD-MI-14
Rep. William MoorheadD-PA-14
Rep. Jerry PattersonD-CA-38
Rep. Paul SarbanesD-MD-3
Rep. Joseph VigoritoD-PA-24
Rep. John MoakleyD-MA-9
Rep. Robert KastenmeierD-WI-2
Rep. Paul TsongasD-MA-5
Rep. Richard OttingerD-NY-24
Rep. Joseph GaydosD-PA-20
Rep. Lionel Van DeerlinD-CA-42
Rep. Joseph EvinsD-TN-4
Rep. James HanleyD-NY-32
Rep. Torbert MacdonaldD-MA-7
Rep. Bernice SiskD-CA-16
Rep. Mario BiaggiD-NY-10
Rep. Harley StaggersD-WV-2
Rep. Robert JonesD-AL-5
Rep. Donald RiegleD-MI-7
Rep. Clement ZablockiD-WI-4
Rep. Charles VanikD-OH-22
Rep. Wayne HaysD-OH-18
Rep. James DelaneyD-NY-9
Rep. Tim HallD-IL-15
Rep. Robert MollohanD-WV-1
Rep. Leo ZeferettiD-NY-15
Rep. Carl PerkinsD-KY-7
Rep. William HungateD-MO-9
Rep. Brock AdamsD-WA-7
Rep. William CotterD-CT-1
Rep. Gerry StuddsD-MA-12
Rep. Herbert HarrisD-VA-8
Rep. Richard Vander VeenD-MI-5
Rep. Leslie AspinD-WI-1
Rep. Paul SimonD-IL-24
Rep. Toby MoffettD-CT-6
Rep. Neal SmithD-IA-4
Rep. Frederick RooneyD-PA-15
Rep. Leonor SullivanD-MO-3
Rep. Matthew McHughD-NY-27
Rep. Albert UllmanD-OR-2
Rep. Thomas FoleyD-WA-5
Rep. Glenn AndersonD-CA-32
Rep. Robert RoeD-NJ-8
Rep. Joseph MinishD-NJ-11
Rep. Leo RyanD-CA-11
Rep. James SymingtonD-MO-2
Rep. John MelcherD-MT-2
Rep. Robert CornellD-WI-8
Rep. Gene MaguireD-NJ-7
Rep. Thomas ReesD-CA-23
Rep. James FlorioD-NJ-1
Rep. Edward BolandD-MA-2
Rep. Frank EvansD-CO-3
Rep. Edward PattisonD-NY-29
Rep. James BlanchardD-MI-18
Rep. Gillis LongD-LA-8
Rep. Alvin BaldusD-WI-3
Rep. Gladys SpellmanD-MD-5
Rep. James WrightD-TX-12
Rep. Don BonkerD-WA-3
Rep. James LloydD-CA-35
Rep. Max BaucusD-MT-1
Rep. Henry NowakD-NY-37
Rep. Joseph FisherD-VA-10
Rep. Robert EdgarD-PA-7
Rep. Michael BlouinD-IA-2
Rep. Thomas DowneyD-NY-2
Rep. Allan HoweD-UT-2
Rep. Mark HannafordD-CA-34
Rep. Koln McKayD-UT-1
Rep. Clifford AllenD-TN-5
Rep. John JenretteD-SC-6
Rep. Otis PikeD-NY-1
Rep. Lester WolffD-NY-6
Rep. John KrebsD-CA-17
Rep. Joseph EarlyD-MA-3
Rep. Timothy WirthD-CO-2
Rep. Robert GiaimoD-CT-3
Rep. John MurthaD-PA-12
Rep. Thomas SteedD-OK-4
Rep. Bill AlexanderD-AR-1
Rep. Mendel DavisD-SC-1
Rep. Christopher DoddD-CT-2
Rep. John SlackD-WV-3
Rep. Martha KeysD-KS-2
Rep. Charles RoseD-NC-7
Rep. Lindy BoggsD-LA-2
Rep. William NatcherD-KY-2
Rep. Robert DuncanD-OR-3
Rep. Lunsford PreyerD-NC-6
Rep. Gus YatronD-PA-6
Rep. Jerome AmbroD-NY-3
Rep. John YoungD-TX-14
Rep. Wilbur MillsD-AR-2
Rep. Samuel StrattonD-NY-28
Rep. John BreckinridgeD-KY-6
Rep. Bob CarrD-MI-6
Rep. John LaFalceD-NY-36
Rep. Theodore RisenhooverD-OK-2
Rep. Jerry LittonD-MO-6
Rep. Thomas AshleyD-OH-9
Rep. Clarence LongD-MD-2
Rep. Ray ThorntonD-AR-4
Rep. Norman D’AmoursD-NH-1
Rep. Tom HarkinD-IA-5
Rep. Kenneth HollandD-SC-5
Rep. Kika de la GarzaD-TX-15
Rep. Martin RussoD-IL-3
Rep. Jake PickleD-TX-10
Rep. Berkley BedellD-IA-6
Rep. William RandallD-MO-4
Rep. Abraham KazenD-TX-23
Rep. Romano MazzoliD-KY-3
Rep. Les AuCoinD-OR-1
Rep. Butler DerrickD-SC-3
Rep. Floyd FithianD-IN-2
Rep. James SantiniD-NV
Rep. John RoushD-IN-4
Rep. Bo GinnD-GA-1
Rep. Patricia SchroederD-CO-1
Rep. Stephen NealD-NC-5
Rep. Tom BevillD-AL-4
Rep. Marilyn LloydD-TN-3
Rep. Carroll HubbardD-KY-1
Rep. Philip SharpD-IN-10
Rep. Richard WhiteD-TX-16
Rep. William HughesD-NJ-2
Rep. Robert StephensD-GA-10
Rep. Don FuquaD-FL-2
Rep. Sam GibbonsD-FL-7
Rep. Lee HamiltonD-IN-9
Rep. Walter JonesD-NC-1
Rep. Bill HefnerD-NC-8
Rep. David HendersonD-NC-3
Rep. George MahonD-TX-19
Rep. Walter FlowersD-AL-7
Rep. Paul RogersD-FL-11
Rep. Robert KruegerD-TX-21
Rep. Jack HightowerD-TX-13
Rep. James JonesD-OK-1
Rep. John BreauxD-LA-7
Rep. Herbert RobertsD-TX-4
Rep. Kenneth HechlerD-WV-4
Rep. David BowenD-MS-2
Rep. David EvansD-IN-6
Rep. Robert SikesD-FL-1
Rep. Jamie WhittenD-MS-1
Rep. Otto PassmanD-LA-5
Rep. Roy TaylorD-NC-11
Rep. Ronald MottlD-OH-23
Rep. William ChappellD-FL-4
Rep. Elliott LevitasD-GA-4
Rep. William NicholsD-AL-3
Rep. Lawrence FountainD-NC-2
Rep. James HaleyD-FL-8
Rep. Glenn EnglishD-OK-6
Rep. Jack BrinkleyD-GA-3
Rep. Marvin MathisD-GA-2
Rep. Andrew JacobsD-IN-11
Rep. Richard IchordD-MO-8
Rep. Phillip LandrumD-GA-9
Rep. Charles BennettD-FL-3
Rep. Thomas DowningD-VA-1
Rep. James MannD-SC-4
Rep. Goodloe ByronD-MD-6
Rep. Felix HébertD-LA-1
Rep. John FlyntD-GA-6
Rep. Joseph WaggonnerD-LA-4
Rep. William PoageD-TX-11
Rep. Harold RunnelsD-NM-2
Rep. Sonny MontgomeryD-MS-3
Rep. Omar BurlesonD-TX-17
Rep. Dan DanielD-VA-5
Rep. David SatterfieldD-VA-3

Republicans who voted yea(127)

Rep. Charles WhalenR-OH-3
Rep. Peter PeyserR-NY-23
Rep. Gilbert GudeR-MD-8
Rep. Matthew RinaldoR-NJ-12
Rep. Silvio ConteR-MA-1
Rep. Edward BiesterR-PA-8
Rep. Frank HortonR-NY-34
Rep. Benjamin GilmanR-NY-26
Rep. Margaret HecklerR-MA-10
Rep. Joseph McDadeR-PA-10
Rep. Henry HeinzR-PA-18
Rep. William WalshR-NY-33
Rep. Larry PresslerR-SD-1
Rep. Mark AndrewsR-ND
Rep. Stewart McKinneyR-CT-4
Rep. Tim CarterR-KY-5
Rep. Donald MitchellR-NY-31
Rep. Thomas RailsbackR-IL-19
Rep. Pete McCloskeyR-CA-12
Rep. William CohenR-ME-2
Rep. Jim JeffordsR-VT
Rep. Ronald SarasinR-CT-5
Rep. David EmeryR-ME-1
Rep. Hamilton FishR-NY-25
Rep. Don YoungR-AK
Rep. Joel PritchardR-WA-1
Rep. Millicent FenwickR-NJ-5
Rep. William HarshaR-OH-6
Rep. Elwood HillisR-IN-5
Rep. John StantonR-OH-11
Rep. Charles MosherR-OH-13
Rep. Norman LentR-NY-4
Rep. James ClevelandR-NH-2
Rep. William WamplerR-VA-9
Rep. John AndersonR-IL-16
Rep. Thad CochranR-MS-4
Rep. Pierre du PontR-DE
Rep. Albert JohnsonR-PA-23
Rep. Garner ShriverR-KS-4
Rep. John HammerschmidtR-AR-3
Rep. George O’BrienR-IL-17
Rep. Trent LottR-MS-5
Rep. Herbert BurkeR-FL-12
Rep. John DuncanR-TN-2
Rep. Ralph RegulaR-OH-16
Rep. John JarmanD-OK-5
Rep. Robert CoughlinR-PA-13
Rep. Jack EdwardsR-AL-1
Rep. Philip RuppeR-MI-11
Rep. James AbdnorR-SD-2
Rep. Joe SkubitzR-KS-5
Rep. Bob WilsonR-CA-41
Rep. Edward DerwinskiR-IL-4
Rep. Larry WinnR-KS-3
Rep. Charles ThoneR-NE-1
Rep. Burt TalcottR-CA-16
Rep. Paul FindleyR-IL-20
Rep. Albert QuieR-MN-1
Rep. John MyersR-IN-7
Rep. Floyd SpenceR-SC-2
Rep. William BroomfieldR-MI-19
Rep. James QuillenR-TN-1
Rep. Clair BurgenerR-CA-43
Rep. George WhitehurstR-VA-2
Rep. Skip BafalisR-FL-10
Rep. William MooreR-LA-6
Rep. Elford CederbergR-MI-10
Rep. Marion SnyderR-KY-4
Rep. Robert McCloryR-IL-13
Rep. Robert DanielR-VA-4
Rep. Garry BrownR-MI-3
Rep. Virginia SmithR-NE-3
Rep. Guy Vander JagtR-MI-9
Rep. John RhodesR-AZ-1
Rep. Manuel LujánR-NM-1
Rep. Henry HydeR-IL-6
Rep. Chalmers WylieR-OH-15
Rep. Keith SebeliusR-KS-1
Rep. Jim JohnsonR-CO-4
Rep. William DickinsonR-AL-2
Rep. Chuck GrassleyR-IA-3
Rep. John WydlerR-NY-5
Rep. Robert LagomarsinoR-CA-19
Rep. Robert McEwenR-NY-30
Rep. Robert KastenR-WI-9
Rep. William SteigerR-WI-6
Rep. Alan SteelmanR-TX-5
Rep. James BroyhillR-NC-10
Rep. Manley ButlerR-VA-6
Rep. Thomas HagedornR-MN-2
Rep. Gary MyersR-PA-25
Rep. Edwin ForsytheR-NJ-6
Rep. James RobinsonR-VA-7
Rep. Gene TaylorR-MO-7
Rep. Richard SchulzeR-PA-5
Rep. Jack KempR-NY-38
Rep. John McCollisterR-NE-2
Rep. W. Bill YoungR-FL-6
Rep. Barry GoldwaterR-CA-20
Rep. William KetchumR-CA-18
Rep. David TreenR-LA-3
Rep. William FrenzelR-MN-3
Rep. Robin BeardR-TN-6
Rep. William GoodlingR-PA-19
Rep. Delbert LattaR-OH-5
Rep. Clarence BrownR-OH-7
Rep. John ErlenbornR-IL-14
Rep. Willis GradisonR-OH-1
Rep. Marjorie HoltR-MD-4
Rep. Carlos MoorheadR-CA-22
Rep. Charles WigginsR-CA-39
Rep. Donald ClancyR-OH-2
Rep. Thomas KindnessR-OH-8
Rep. Richard KellyR-FL-5
Rep. Edward HutchinsonR-MI-4
Rep. Robert MichelR-IL-18
Rep. Clarence MillerR-OH-10
Rep. Bill ArcherR-TX-7
Rep. Samuel DevineR-OH-12
Rep. Delwin ClawsonR-CA-33
Rep. Bud ShusterR-PA-9
Rep. Robert BaumanR-MD-1
Rep. Herman SchneebeliR-PA-17
Rep. John AshbrookR-OH-17
Rep. John RousselotR-CA-26
Rep. George HansenR-ID-2
Rep. Phil CraneR-IL-12

Data notes

The House’s recorded vote on the final version of the law (roll call 677 in Voteview), matched to the vote the record cites and checked against its totals. Positions are each member’s DW-NOMINATE score for that Congress, as on the Ideology page; left to right is more liberal to more conservative. Paired and announced yea votes count as yea. Lists follow the compass, most liberal first. A name links to a profile only for members of the current Congress. A law passed by voice vote or unanimous consent has no member list, and neither does a vote Voteview has not yet recorded.

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Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

Financial Services Committee · House · referred to, reported by
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee · Senate · referred to, reported by

Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 24 actions.

Mar 23, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
PresidentPresident · Public law 94-239.
Mar 11, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
Mar 9, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in Senate: Senate agreed to conference report.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to conference report, roll call #95 (384-3).House roll call 95
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report agreed to in House: House agreed to conference report, roll call #95 (384-3).House roll call 95
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-685.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in Senate, S. Rept. 94-685.
Mar 4, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-873.
Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference report filed: Conference report filed in House, H. Rept. 94-873.
Feb 24, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in Senate.
Feb 18, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · Conference scheduled in House.
Feb 2, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
Jan 21, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Jun 4, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
Jun 3, 1975FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
May 14, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Financial Services Committee
Apr 30, 1975CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House

Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.