Paycheck Fairness Act This bill addresses wage discrimination on the basis of sex, which is defined to include pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. Specifically, it limits an employer's defense that a pay differential is based on a factor other than sex to only bona fide job-related factors in wage discrimination claims, enhances nonretaliation prohibitions, and makes it unlawful to require an employee to sign a contract or waiver prohibiting the employee from disclosing information about the employee's wages. The bill also increases civil penalties for violations of equal pay provisions. Additionally, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs must train EEOC employees and other affected parties on wage discrimination. The bill directs the Department of Labor to (1) establish and carry out a grant program to provide training in negotiation skills related to compensation and equitable working conditions, (2) conduct studies to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, and (3) make available information on wage discrimination to assist the public in understanding and addressing such discrimination. The bill establishes the National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace for an employer who has made a substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. It also establishes the National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to address compliance, public education, and enforcement of equal pay laws. Finally, the bill requires the EEOC to issue regulations for collecting from employers compensation and other employment data according to the sex, race, and national origin of employees for use in enforcing laws prohibiting pay discrimination.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 22.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-13.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 303 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 303. (consideration: CR H1799-1825)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, further consideration of H.R. 7 was postponed until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1826-1829)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 210 (Roll no. 108).
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 22.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-13.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 303 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 303. (consideration: CR H1799-1825)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, further consideration of H.R. 7 was postponed until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1826-1829)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 210 (Roll no. 108).
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightContracts and agencyDepartment of EducationDepartment of LaborEmployee hiringEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLabor standardsMinority employmentPublic contracts and procurementRacial and ethnic relationsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSmall businessTemporary and part-time employmentWages and earningsWomen's employmentYouth employment and child labor
Paycheck Fairness Act
USA117th CongressHR-7| House
| Updated: 6/8/2021
Paycheck Fairness Act This bill addresses wage discrimination on the basis of sex, which is defined to include pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics. Specifically, it limits an employer's defense that a pay differential is based on a factor other than sex to only bona fide job-related factors in wage discrimination claims, enhances nonretaliation prohibitions, and makes it unlawful to require an employee to sign a contract or waiver prohibiting the employee from disclosing information about the employee's wages. The bill also increases civil penalties for violations of equal pay provisions. Additionally, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs must train EEOC employees and other affected parties on wage discrimination. The bill directs the Department of Labor to (1) establish and carry out a grant program to provide training in negotiation skills related to compensation and equitable working conditions, (2) conduct studies to eliminate pay disparities between men and women, and (3) make available information on wage discrimination to assist the public in understanding and addressing such discrimination. The bill establishes the National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace for an employer who has made a substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. It also establishes the National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to address compliance, public education, and enforcement of equal pay laws. Finally, the bill requires the EEOC to issue regulations for collecting from employers compensation and other employment data according to the sex, race, and national origin of employees for use in enforcing laws prohibiting pay discrimination.
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 22.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-13.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 303 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 303. (consideration: CR H1799-1825)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, further consideration of H.R. 7 was postponed until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1826-1829)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 210 (Roll no. 108).
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 - 22.
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 2.
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-13.
Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 303 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 303. (consideration: CR H1799-1825)
Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 7 and H.R. 1195. Rule provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 7 and provides one motion to recommit. Rule also provides for one hour of general debate on H.R. 1195 and provides one motion to recommit.
DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 7.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Scott (VA) amendment en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 303, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment No. 4.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Miller-Meeks amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of Rule XIX, further consideration of H.R. 7 was postponed until a time to be announced.
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H1826-1829)
Motion to reconsider laid on the table. Agreed to without objection.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 217 - 210 (Roll no. 108).
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightContracts and agencyDepartment of EducationDepartment of LaborEmployee hiringEmployment and training programsEmployment discrimination and employee rightsEqual Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)Government information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsLabor standardsMinority employmentPublic contracts and procurementRacial and ethnic relationsSex, gender, sexual orientation discriminationSmall businessTemporary and part-time employmentWages and earningsWomen's employmentYouth employment and child labor