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Paycheck Fairness Act: Equal Pay and Worker Protection

This act aims to ensure equal pay for equal work, regardless of sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity. It introduces new rules for setting wages, prohibits asking about salary history, and strengthens protections for employees discussing their pay. This should help reduce wage gaps and increase transparency in the workplace.
Key points
Expands the definition of sex in the context of pay discrimination to include pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Strengthens equal pay rules, requiring employers to prove that pay differences are based on legitimate job-related factors, not sex.
Prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant's salary history or relying on it to determine pay, unless the applicant voluntarily provides the information after receiving a job offer.
Increases protection for employees against retaliation for discussing their own or others' wages, filing pay discrimination complaints, or participating in investigations.
Imposes higher financial penalties for employers violating equal pay provisions and allows employees to seek compensatory and punitive damages.
Establishes training programs for employers and employees to eliminate bias in wage-setting practices and improve negotiation skills.
Requires employers with 100 or more employees to annually collect and report compensation data disaggregated by sex, race, and national origin, to help identify pay disparities.
Creates a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to improve coordination among government agencies in enforcing equal pay laws.
Mandates employers to post notices about employee rights under this act in conspicuous places, including electronically.
article Official text account_balance Process page
VOTING RESULTS
2021-06-08
51%
For 49
Against 50
Abstain 0
Full voting results open_in_new
Failed
Citizen Poll
No votes cast
Additional Information
Print number: 117_HR_7
Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]
Process start date: 2021-01-28
Voting date: 2021-06-08
Meeting no: 1
Voting no: 227
Lustra uses Artificial Intelligence. Verify details in source documents.
Summarized by: gemini-2.5-flash-preview-05-20
Source data: api.congress.gov
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OFFICIAL LEGAL TITLE

Paycheck Fairness Act

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the official ID of this bill?

The official print number for this legislation is 117_HR_7.

Which chamber initiated this legislation?

This legislation was initiated in the House of Representatives.

When did the legislative process begin?

The process officially started on 2021-01-28.

What are the main provisions?

Key points include:

  • Expands the definition of sex in the context of pay discrimination to include pregnancy, childbirth, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
  • Strengthens equal pay rules, requiring employers to prove that pay differences are based on legitimate job-related factors, not sex.
  • Prohibits employers from asking about a job applicant's salary history or relying on it to determine pay, unless the applicant voluntarily provides the information after receiving a job offer.
  • Increases protection for employees against retaliation for discussing their own or others' wages, filing pay discrimination complaints, or participating in investigations.
  • Imposes higher financial penalties for employers violating equal pay provisions and allows employees to seek compensatory and punitive damages.
  • Establishes training programs for employers and employees to eliminate bias in wage-setting practices and improve negotiation skills.
  • Requires employers with 100 or more employees to annually collect and report compensation data disaggregated by sex, race, and national origin, to help identify pay disparities.
  • Creates a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force to improve coordination among government agencies in enforcing equal pay laws.
  • Mandates employers to post notices about employee rights under this act in conspicuous places, including electronically.
What is the specific legal status?

The current status is Failed.

Where can I read the full text of this legislation?

The full official text is available at: View full text

Where is the official voting record?

The official roll call vote is recorded at: voting record

Who is the primary sponsor?

The primary sponsor is Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3].

What is the latest detailed status?

The latest detailed status is: Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 49 - 50. Record Vote Number: 227. (CR S3981)

Is this summary verified?

Yes. This content was analyzed by AI and verified by the Lustra Judge System on 2025-12-28.

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Labor Courts and Law