Paycheck Fairness Act
| Date | Chamber | What was voted on | Result | Yes–No | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 15, 2021 | House · vote #108 | On Passage | Passed | 217–210 | See who voted → |
Amendments propose changes to this bill. Members vote on amendments separately before the final bill vote. An agreed amendment becomes part of the bill; a failed amendment does not.
2 agreed to 1 failed
| Amendment | Sponsor | Status |
|---|---|---|
| HAMDT 38 | Miller-Meeks, Mariannette | Failed |
| HAMDT 37 | Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" | Agreed to |
| HAMDT 36 | — | Agreed to |
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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.
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)
- Engrossed in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Introduced in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Placed on Calendar Senate Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
- Reported in House Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML
Cite this page
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7/
"H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7/.
H.R. 7, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7/.
[H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-HR-7/)