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HR 1519 112th Congress House Labor and Employment Civil actions and liability Employment discrimination and employee rights Government information and archives Government studies and investigations Public contracts and procurement Racial and ethnic relations Sex, gender, sexual orientation discrimination Small business Wages and earnings Women's employment

Paycheck Fairness Act

Introduced: April 13, 2011 Introduced by: DeLauro, Rosa L. Democratic · Connecticut See on congress.gov
This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 20, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Apr 13, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
Apr 13, 2011
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Paycheck Fairness Act - Amends the portion of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (FLSA) known as the Equal Pay Act to revise remedies for, enforcement of, and exceptions to prohibitions against sex discrimination in the payment of wages.

Revises the exception to the prohibition for a wage rate differential based on any other factor other than sex. Limits such factors to bona fide factors, such as education, training, or experience.

States that the bona fide factor defense shall apply only if the employer demonstrates that such factor: (1) is not based upon or derived from a sex-based differential in compensation, (2) is job-related with respect to the position in question, and (3) is consistent with business necessity. Makes such defense inapplicable where the employee demonstrates that: (1) an alternative employment practice exists that would serve the same business purpose without producing such differential, and (2) the employer has refused to adopt such alternative practice.

Revises the prohibition against employer retaliation for employee complaints. Prohibits retaliation for inquiring about, discussing, or disclosing the wages of the employee or another employee in response to a complaint or charge, or in furtherance of a sex discrimination investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, or an investigation conducted by the employer.

Makes employers who violate sex discrimination prohibitions liable in a civil action for either compensatory or (except for the federal government) punitive damages.

States that any action brought to enforce the prohibition against sex discrimination may be maintained as a class action in which individuals may be joined as party plaintiffs without their written consent.

Authorizes the Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to seek additional compensatory or punitive damages in a sex discrimination action.

Requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to train EEOC employees and affected individuals and entities on matters involving wage discrimination.

Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to eligible entities for negotiation skills training programs for girls and women. Directs the Secretary and the Secretary of Education to issue regulations or policy guidance to integrate such training into certain programs under their Departments.

Directs the Secretary to conduct studies and provide information to employers, labor organizations, and the general public regarding the means available to eliminate pay disparities between men and women.

Establishes the Secretary of Labor's 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.

Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to require the EEOC to collect from employers pay information data regarding the sex, race, and national origin of employees for use in the enforcement of federal laws prohibiting pay discrimination.

Directs: (1) the Commissioner of Labor Statistics to continue to collect data on woman workers in the Current Employment Statistics survey, (2) the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs to use specified types of methods in investigating compensation discrimination and in enforcing pay equity, and (3) the Secretary to make accurate information on compensation discrimination readily available to the public.

Directs the Secretary and the Commissioner [sic] of the EEOC jointly to develop technical assistance material to assist small businesses to comply with the requirements of this Act.

What's happening now May 20, 2011

Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.

 Related & companion bills 3
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 109
Chandler, Ben
· Jul 26, 2012
Donnelly, Joe
· Jul 10, 2012
D
Costa, Jim
California · Jun 27, 2012
Schrader, Kurt
· Jun 27, 2012
HOLDEN, TIM
· Jun 26, 2012
D
Larsen, Rick
Washington · Jun 1, 2012
ROSS, MIKE
· Jun 1, 2012
Shuler, Heath
· Jun 1, 2012
D
Bishop, Sanford D.
Georgia · May 31, 2012
D
Bonamici, Suzanne
Oregon · May 31, 2012
D
Cuellar, Henry
Texas · May 31, 2012
D
Meeks, Gregory W.
New York · Apr 19, 2012
D
Smith, Adam
Washington · Dec 20, 2011
PETERSON, COLLIN
· Dec 19, 2011
Kissell, Larry
· Dec 16, 2011
Miller, Brad
· Dec 16, 2011
D
Quigley, Mike
Illinois · Jun 16, 2011
ACKERMAN, GARY
· Apr 13, 2011
Altmire, Jason
· Apr 13, 2011
BACA, JOE
· Apr 13, 2011
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Apr 13, 2011
BECERRA, XAVIER
· Apr 13, 2011
BERKLEY, SHELLEY
· Apr 13, 2011
BERMAN, HOWARD
· Apr 13, 2011
Boren, Dan
· Apr 13, 2011
BOSWELL, LEONARD
· Apr 13, 2011
BRADY, ROBERT
· Apr 13, 2011
CAPUANO, MICHAEL
· Apr 13, 2011
Cardoza, Dennis
· Apr 13, 2011
Carnahan, Russ
· Apr 13, 2011
D
Carson, André
Indiana · Apr 13, 2011
D
Castor, Kathy
Florida · Apr 13, 2011
D
Chu, Judy
California · Apr 13, 2011
D
Clarke, Yvette D.
New York · Apr 13, 2011
D
Cleaver, Emanuel
Missouri · Apr 13, 2011
D
Clyburn, James E.
South Carolina · Apr 13, 2011
D
Cohen, Steve
Tennessee · Apr 13, 2011
COSTELLO, JERRY
· Apr 13, 2011
D
Courtney, Joe
Connecticut · Apr 13, 2011
CROWLEY, JOSEPH
· Apr 13, 2011
CUMMINGS, ELIJAH
· Apr 13, 2011
D
Davis, Danny K.
Illinois · Apr 13, 2011
D
DeGette, Diana
Colorado · Apr 13, 2011
D
Doggett, Lloyd
Texas · Apr 13, 2011
FRANK, BARNEY
· Apr 13, 2011
D
Garamendi, John
California · Apr 13, 2011
GONZALEZ, CHARLES
· Apr 13, 2011
D
Green, Al
Texas · Apr 13, 2011
GREEN, GENE
· Apr 13, 2011
GUTIERREZ, LUIS
· Apr 13, 2011
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1519: Paycheck Fairness Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1519/
MLA
"H.R. 1519: Paycheck Fairness Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1519/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1519, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1519/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1519: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-1519/)
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