About 

The External Civil Rights Program oversees and monitors Department of Commerce federal funding recipient’s compliance with statutes that prohibit discrimination including, but not limited to, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975.  In carrying out this function, the Office of Civil Rights, External Civil Rights Program receives and processes complaints from individuals who believe they have been discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin (limited English proficiency), age, sex, disability, or reprisal in federally assisted programs and activities.  

File a Complaint: 

Complaints can be filed electronically by emailing it to [email protected] or by sending to:   

               External Civil Rights Complaints

               U.S. Department of Commerce, Room 6058

               1401 Constitution Avenue, N.W.

               Washington, D.C.  20230  

Recent External Civil Rights Documents:

Fact Sheet below describes the ways in which Title VI protects individuals who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist, or of another religious group:

DOC External Civil Rights Fact Sheet.pdf

Statutes Enforced:

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964  prohibit exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits of, and discrimination on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, including limited English proficiency by programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance from DOC.  DOC has promulgated regulations to effectuate the applicable provisions of Title VI.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits exclusion from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.  DOC has promulgated regulations to effectuate the applicable provisions of Title IX.

The Public Works and Economic Development Act of 1965, as amended, 42 U.S.C. § 3123, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any project funded under that statute.

The Public Works Employment Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. § 6709, also prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any project funded under that statute.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits of, and discrimination under Federally assisted programs on the grounds of disability.  DOC has promulgated regulations to implement section 504 with respect to programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.

The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance.

Helpful External Compliance Websites

Department of Justice’s Federal Coordination and Compliance Section

The Federal Coordination and Compliance Section (FCS) is a section within the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division which ensures that all federal agencies consistently and effectively enforce civil rights statutes and Executive Orders prohibiting discrimination in federally-conducted and assisted programs and activities.

LEP.gov

LEP.gov is the website of the Interagency Working Group on Limited English Proficiency and is maintained by FCS.  It includes resources and information to help expand and improve language assistance services for individuals with limited English proficiency, in compliance with federal law.

Department of Justice’s Disability Rights Section

The Disability Rights Section is a section within the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division which works to achieve equal opportunity for people with disabilities in the United States.  It implements the Americans with Disabilities Act and carries out responsibilities under Sections 504 and 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

U.S. Access Board

The U.S. Access Board is an independent federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities through leadership in accessible design and the development of accessibility guidelines and standards.  It ensures access to federally-funded facilities and develops/maintains design criteria for the built environment, transit vehicles, telecommunications equipment, medical diagnostic equipment, and information technology.  The Board also enforces the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968.

Section508.gov

Section508.gov is a U.S. General Services Administration, Office of Government-wide Policy website that provides guidance to individuals who play a role in Information Technology accessibility for Federal agencies.