PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 134.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Mar 9, 2023
Paycheck Fairness Act
This bill addresses wage discrimination on the basis of sex. Specifically, it (1) 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, (2) enhances nonretaliation prohibitions, (3) makes it unlawful to require an employee to sign a contract or waiver prohibiting the employee from disclosing information about the employee's wages, and (4) 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 for negotiation skills training for girls and women, (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 also 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. 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.
People & committees
Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA] · D–WA
Legislative record
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Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 134.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Reported by Senator Sanders without amendment. Without written report.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Introduced in Senate
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Apr 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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