Connecticut’s two U.S. senators last week joined 14 other senators in introducing a bill which would prevent employers from forcing workers to disclose their credit history when seeking a job.

“Credit ratings say nothing about a person’s character or ability to succeed in the workplace, and there should be no place for them in a job application,” said U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.

“For individuals struggling with student loans, medical debt or other financial challenges, the last thing they need is another artificial, unfair hurdle standing in the way of gainful employment,” Blumenthal said.

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, added “Your credit history has no bearing on your ability to do your job. Right now, the law places unreasonable and arbitrary barriers in front of people trying to find good jobs that make it easier for them to care for themselves and build a better life for their families.”

“The Equal Employment for All Act will right an illogical wrong, and I’m committed to seeing it enacted into law,” Murphy said.

Bad credit ratings can be used to prevent someone from receiving a job and is often the result of unexpected medical costs, unemployment, economic downturns or simply bad breaks.

Among the sponsors of the bill are Senators Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., Ron Wyden D-Ore., Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Bob Menendez, D-N.J., Bernie Sanders I-Vt., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., Al Franken, D-Minn., Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii and Edward J. Markey, D-Mass.