So far the U.S. Senate debate over financial reform has focused largely on regulating risk on Wall Street. But on Monday the Senate passed an amendment to the financial reform bill that is aimed squarely at protecting everyday consumers.

Originally proposed by Senator Mark Udall, Democrat of Colorado, the amendment entitles any American who is rejected for a credit card or loan—or receives an unfavorable interest rate—to a free copy of the credit score the lender used to make its decision.

While Americans could already get a free annual credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, those reports don’t show an individual’s credit score, which is a specific number. And although credit reports are useful, credit scores—which until now you had to pay to receive—are ultimately what lenders look at when determining creditworthiness.

If the credit score amendment makes it through reconciliation with the House bill and then gets signed into law, the process of building and keeping good credit could become a little more transparent. If because of a poor credit score you’re denied credit, your interest rate ratchets up or you don’t land a certain job, you’ll be able to find out just what got in your way.

Check out the NYSE Money Sense section on Credit Scores to learn more about how a credit score is calculated and how you can improve yours.