Rep. Luis Gutierrez, D-Ill., introduced legislation today designed to limit the ability of insurers to use consumer credit ratings and information in setting rates or deciding to offer coverage.

“Insurance companies are increasingly and alarmingly using credit information contained in credit reports to determine whether and at what price to offer personal lines of property and casualty insurance,” said Rep. Gutierrez. “This includes automobile and homeowners insurance. For families who are only beginning to establish credit–including minority and immigrant communities–this practice puts them in a difficult and unfair financial position.”

The legislation, known as the Non-Discriminatory Use of Consumer Reports and Consumer Information Act of 2008 (HR 5633), is being co-sponsored by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Rep. Mel Watt., D-N.C., who chairs the Financial Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.