Panel OKs Rights Restoration Bill

The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee today approved a major civil rights bill that would reverse the effects of a 1984 Supreme Court decision sharply limiting anti-discrimination protections.

The committee approved the Civil Rights Restoration Act on a bipartisan 12-4 vote and sent it to the Senate floor. The Supreme Court ruled in the case of Grove City (Pa.) College that sex discrimination was barred only in specific programs receiving federal aid--not at entire institutions. The bill approved by the committee would extend anti-bias coverage institution-wide for women, minorities, the aged and the handicapped.