CROWN Act of 2022

CROWN Act
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair.
Announced inthe 117th United States Congress
Number of co-sponsors116
Legislative history

The Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2022 (also known as the CROWN Act of 2022) was a bill in the United States Congress intended to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's hair texture or hairstyle by classifying such discrimination illegal under federal law.[1] It applied to federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment.[1] The act was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) on March 19, 2021.[2] Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced a companion bill in the Senate on March 22, 2021.[3] The CROWN Act of 2022 marked the second time the legislation was introduced in Congress.[4][5]

On March 18, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the bill with a 235-189 vote.[6][7] In the Senate, the bill was referred to the Judiciary Committee,[8] but was never officially voted on because it failed to gain enough support to override a filibuster from Senator Rand Paul (R-KY).[9][10]

No new version of the bill has since been proposed in either the House of Representatives or Senate. However, Representative Troy Carter (D-LA) suggested the proposed legislation may be re-introduced in 2024.[11]

  1. ^ a b "Text: H.R.2116 - Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2022 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "Cosponsors: H.R.2116 - Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act of 2022 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  3. ^ "Text: S.888 - CROWN Act of 2021 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "Text: H.R.5309 - CROWN Act of 2020 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "Text: S.3167 - CROWN Act of 2019 — 116th Congress (2019-2020)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "Roll Call 82 | Bill Number: H. R. 2116". Office of the Clerk, United States House of Representatives. 18 March 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  7. ^ "Watson Coleman Celebrates House Passage of the CROWN Act". Bonnie Watson Colemen. March 18, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  8. ^ "Actions Overview - S.888 - CROWN Act of 2021 - 117th Congress (2021-2022)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  9. ^ "All Actions: S.888 - CROWN Act of 2021 — 117th Congress (2021-2022)". Congress.Gov. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  10. ^ "Sen. Rand Paul blocks measure against hair discrimination". PBS. December 15, 2022. Retrieved February 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Pritchett, Valerie (February 26, 2024). "Advocates push to pass the CROWN Act in Pennsylvania, US Congress". Koin, Nexstar Media Inc. Retrieved March 8, 2024.