1963
Congress passes the Equal Pay Act of
1963, which protects men and women who perform substantially equal
work in the same establishment from sex-based wage discrimination.
The Department of Labor is given authority to enforce the new
law.
![A courtroom scene with a judge and 3 layers](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130222092244im_/http://www.eeoc.gov/youth//pictures/legal.jpg)
1964
President Lyndon B. Johnson signs into
law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One section of the Act, referred
to as Title VII, prohibits employment discrimination based on race,
sex, color, religion and national origin. The Act applies to
private employers, labor unions and employment agencies. The Act
also creates the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to
enforce Title VII and eliminate unlawful employment
discrimination.
1965
EEOC opens its doors for business on July
2, 1965 -- one year after Title VII becomes a law. EEOC has a
budget of $2.25 million and approximately 100 employees.
1966
EEOC opens its first field office in
Dallas, Texas. By year's end, the office is relocated to Austin,
Texas. Three other field offices open this year -- Atlanta, Chicago
and Cleveland.
1967
Congress passes the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protecting individuals who are
between 40 and 65 years of age from discrimination in employment.
Originally, the Department of Labor - not the EEOC - has
enforcement responsibility.
![3 layers doing research](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130222092244im_/http://www.eeoc.gov/youth//pictures/legal2.jpg)
1968
Although EEOC cannot file lawsuits
directly against employers, the agency begins to submit amicus or
"friend of the court" briefs in cases brought by individual
employees.
1972
Congress gives EEOC the authority to file
lawsuits against private companies. It also applies Title VII to
the entire federal government, and to all state and local
government agencies with at least 15 employees.
1973
Congress passes the Rehabilitation Act of
1973. Section 501 prohibits the Federal Government from
discriminating against qualified individuals with
disabilities.
1978
Congress amends Title VII by passing the
Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 to make clear that
discrimination based on pregnancy is unlawful sex discrimination.
In the same year, President Jimmy Carter transfers responsibility
for enforcing the Equal Pay Act and the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act from the Department of Labor to EEOC.
![A group of layers doing research in a library](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20130222092244im_/http://www.eeoc.gov/youth//pictures/legal3.jpg)
1990
President George H.W. Bush signs into law
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). EEOC is given
responsibility for enforcing Title I of the ADA which prohibits
private employers, state and local governments, unions and
employment agencies from discriminating against people with
disabilities in employment. Title I does not become effective until
two years after the President signs the bill (July 26, 1992).
1991
Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of
1991 (CRA) to overrule several decisions by the United States
Supreme Court that had made it more difficult for employees to
prevail in job discrimination lawsuits. The Act gives employees the
right to request a jury trial in Title VII and ADA lawsuits and
allows successful plaintiffs to recover compensatory and punitive
damages in intentional employment discrimination cases under Title
VII and the ADA. The CRA also expands Title VII's protections to
include Congressional and high level political appointees.
2008
President George W. Bush signs into law the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. EEOC is given authority to enforce Title II of the Act, which prohibits employment discrimination based on genetic information.
President George W. Bush signs into law the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The Act makes important changes to the definition of the term “disability” that make it easier for a person to establish that he or she has a medical condition covered by the ADA, as amended.
President George W. Bush signs into law the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008. The Act makes important changes to the definition of the term “disability” that make it easier for a person to establish that he or she has a medical condition covered by the ADA, as amended.
2009
President Barack H. Obama signs into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. The Act addresses when pay discrimination charges can be filed with EEOC. This Act was the first bill signed into law by President Obama.
For more specific information on the history of the EEOC, including important decisions by the United States Supreme Court about employment discrimination, see the main EEOC History Page.