US HB12 | 2009-2010 | 111th Congress

Status

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 200-1-1)
Status: Introduced on January 6 2009 - 25% progression, died in committee
Action: 2009-03-06 - Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
Pending: House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Committee
Text: Latest bill text (Introduced) [PDF]

Summary

Paycheck Fairness Act - (Sec. 3) 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. Avers that such defense shall not apply 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. (Sec. 4) 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. (Sec. 5) 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. (Sec. 6) 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. (Sec. 7) Establishes the Secretary of Labor's National Award for Pay Equity in the Workplace for an employer who has made substantial effort to eliminate pay disparities between men and women. (Sec. 8) 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. (Sec. 9) 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. (Sec. 10) Authorizes appropriations to carry out this Act. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary and the Commissioner of the EEOC jointly to develop technical assistance material to assist small businesses to comply with the requirements of this Act. Exempts a small business from the provisions of this Act to the same extent that such business is exempt from the requirements of the FLSA under specified provisions of that Act.

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Title

Paycheck Fairness Act

Sponsors

Rep. Neil Abercrombie [D-HI]Rep. Gary Ackerman [D-NY]Rep. John Adler [D-NJ]Rep. Robert Andrews [D-NJ]
Rep. Michael Arcuri [D-NY]Rep. Joe Baca [D-CA]Rep. Brian Baird [D-WA]Sen. Tammy Baldwin [D-WI]
Rep. John Barrow [D-GA]Rep. Xavier Becerra [D-CA]Rep. Shelley Berkley [D-NV]Rep. Howard Berman [D-CA]
Rep. Marion Berry [D-AR]Rep. Sanford Bishop [D-GA]Rep. Timothy Bishop [D-NY]Rep. Earl Blumenauer [D-OR]
Rep. John Boccieri [D-OH]Rep. Madeleine Bordallo [D-GU]Rep. Leonard Boswell [D-IA]Rep. Rick Boucher [D-VA]
Rep. Robert Brady [D-PA]Rep. Bruce Braley [D-IA]Rep. Corrine Brown [D-FL]Rep. G. Butterfield [D-NC]
Rep. Lois Capps [D-CA]Rep. Michael Capuano [D-MA]Rep. Dennis Cardoza [D-CA]Rep. Russ Carnahan [D-MO]
Rep. Andre Carson [D-IN]Rep. Kathy Castor [D-FL]Rep. Donna Christensen [D-VI]Rep. Yvette Clarke [D-NY]
Rep. Lacy Clay [D-MO]Rep. Emanuel Cleaver [D-MO]Rep. James Clyburn [D-SC]Rep. Steve Cohen [D-TN]
Rep. Gerald Connolly [D-VA]Rep. John Conyers [D-MI]Rep. Jim Cooper [D-TN]Rep. Jerry Costello [D-IL]
Rep. Joe Courtney [D-CT]Rep. Elijah Cummings [D-MD]Rep. Kathleen Dahlkemper [D-PA]Rep. Artur Davis [D-AL]
Rep. Danny Davis [D-IL]Rep. Susan Davis [D-CA]Rep. Peter DeFazio [D-OR]Rep. Diana DeGette [D-CO]
Rep. Rosa DeLauro [D-CT]Rep. Norman Dicks [D-WA]Rep. John Dingell [D-MI]Rep. Lloyd Doggett [D-TX]
Rep. Michael Doyle [D-PA]Rep. Steve Driehaus [D-OH]Rep. Chet Edwards [D-TX]Rep. Donna Edwards [D-MD]
Rep. Keith Ellison [D-MN]Rep. Eliot Engel [D-NY]Rep. Anna Eshoo [D-CA]Rep. Sam Farr [D-CA]
Rep. Chaka Fattah [D-PA]Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA]Rep. Marcia Fudge [D-OH]Rep. Gabrielle Giffords [D-AZ]
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY]Rep. Charles Gonzalez [D-TX]Rep. Al Green [D-TX]Rep. Gene Green [D-TX]
Rep. Raul Grijalva [D-AZ]Rep. Luis Gutierrez [D-IL]Rep. John Hall [D-NY]Rep. Deborah Halvorson [D-IL]
Rep. Phil Hare [D-IL]Rep. Jane Harman [D-CA]Rep. Alcee Hastings [D-FL]Sen. Martin Heinrich [D-NM]
Rep. Brian Higgins [D-NY]Rep. James Himes [D-CT]Rep. Maurice Hinchey [D-NY]Rep. Ruben Hinojosa [D-TX]
Sen. Mazie Hirono [D-HI]Rep. Paul Hodes [D-NH]Rep. Rush Holt [D-NJ]Rep. Michael Honda [D-CA]
Rep. Steny Hoyer [D-MD]Rep. Steve Israel [D-NY]Rep. Jesse Jackson [D-IL]Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee [D-TX]
Rep. Eddie Johnson [D-TX]Rep. Henry Johnson [D-GA]Rep. Steve Kagen [D-WI]Rep. Marcy Kaptur [D-OH]
Rep. Patrick Kennedy [D-RI]Rep. Dale Kildee [D-MI]Rep. Mary Kilroy [D-OH]Rep. Ron Kind [D-WI]
Rep. Dennis Kucinich [D-OH]Rep. James Langevin [D-RI]Rep. Rick Larsen [D-WA]Rep. John Larson [D-CT]
Rep. Barbara Lee [D-CA]Rep. Sander Levin [D-MI]Rep. John Lewis [D-GA]Rep. Daniel Lipinski [D-IL]
Rep. David Loebsack [D-IA]Rep. Zoe Lofgren [D-CA]Rep. Nita Lowey [D-NY]Sen. Ben Lujan [D-NM]
Rep. Stephen Lynch [D-MA]Rep. Daniel Maffei [D-NY]Rep. Carolyn Maloney [D-NY]Sen. Edward Markey [D-MA]
Rep. Jim Marshall [D-GA]Rep. Eric Massa [D-NY]Rep. Doris Matsui [D-CA]Rep. Carolyn McCarthy [D-NY]
Rep. Betty McCollum [D-MN]Rep. Jim McDermott [D-WA]Rep. Michael McMahon [D-NY]Rep. Kendrick Meek [D-FL]
Rep. Michael Michaud [D-ME]Rep. Brad Miller [D-NC]Rep. George Miller [D-CA]Rep. Harry Mitchell [D-AZ]
Rep. Dennis Moore [D-KS]Rep. Gwen Moore [D-WI]Rep. James Moran [D-VA]Sen. Christopher Murphy [D-CT]
Rep. Patrick Murphy [R-PA]Rep. John Murtha [D-PA]Rep. Jerrold Nadler [D-NY]Rep. Eleanor Norton [D-DC]
Rep. Glenn Nye [D-VA]Rep. Glenn Nye [D-VA]Rep. James Oberstar [D-MN]Rep. David Obey [D-WI]
Rep. John Olver [D-MA]Rep. Solomon Ortiz [D-TX]Rep. Frank Pallone [D-NJ]Rep. Bill Pascrell [D-NJ]
Rep. Ed Pastor [D-AZ]Rep. Donald Payne [D-NJ]Rep. Thomas Perriello [D-VA]Sen. Gary Peters [D-MI]
Rep. Collin Peterson [D-MN]Rep. Pedro Pierluisi [N-PR]Rep. Chellie Pingree [D-ME]Rep. Jared Polis [D-CO]
Rep. Earl Pomeroy [D-ND]Rep. David Price [D-NC]Rep. Charles Rangel [D-NY]Rep. Silvestre Reyes [D-TX]
Rep. Laura Richardson [D-CA]Rep. Ciro Rodriguez [D-TX]Rep. Steven Rothman [D-NJ]Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard [D-CA]
Rep. C.A. Ruppersberger [D-MD]Rep. Bobby Rush [D-IL]Rep. Tim Ryan [D-OH]Rep. Linda Sanchez [D-CA]
Rep. Loretta Sanchez [D-CA]Rep. John Sarbanes [D-MD]Rep. Janice Schakowsky [D-IL]Sen. Adam Schiff [D-CA]
Rep. Allyson Schwartz [D-PA]Rep. David Scott [D-GA]Rep. Robert Scott [D-VA]Rep. Jose Serrano [D-NY]
Rep. Joe Sestak [D-PA]Rep. Carol Shea-Porter [D-NH]Rep. Brad Sherman [D-CA]Rep. Heath Shuler [D-NC]
Rep. Albio Sires [D-NJ]Rep. Ike Skelton [D-MO]Rep. Louise Slaughter [D-NY]Rep. Jackie Speier [D-CA]
Rep. Fortney Stark [D-CA]Rep. Bart Stupak [D-MI]Rep. Betty Sutton [D-OH]Rep. Ellen Tauscher [D-CA]
Rep. Harry Teague [D-NM]Rep. Bennie Thompson [D-MS]Rep. Mike Thompson [D-CA]Rep. John Tierney [D-MA]
Rep. Dina Titus [D-NV]Rep. Edolphus Towns [D-NY]Rep. Niki Tsongas [D-MA]Sen. Chris Van Hollen [D-MD]
Rep. Nydia Velazquez [D-NY]Rep. Peter Visclosky [D-IN]Rep. Timothy Walz [D-MN]Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz [D-FL]
Rep. Maxine Waters [D-CA]Rep. Diane Watson [D-CA]Rep. Melvin Watt [D-NC]Rep. Henry Waxman [D-CA]
Rep. Anthony Weiner [D-NY]Sen. Peter Welch [D-VT]Rep. Robert Wexler [D-FL]Rep. Lynn Woolsey [D-CA]
Rep. David Wu [D-OR]Rep. John Yarmuth [D-KY]

History

DateChamberAction
2009-03-06 Referred to the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections.
2009-01-09 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 5, H.R. 12 is laid on the table.
2009-01-09 Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 5, the text of H.R. 12 as passed by the House will be appended to the end of H.R. 11 as new matter.
2009-01-09 Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
2009-01-09 On passage Passed by recorded vote: 256 - 163 (Roll no. 8). (text: CR H124-126)
2009-01-09 On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 178 - 240 (Roll no. 7).
2009-01-09 The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H136-137)
2009-01-09 DEBATE - The House proceeded with ten minutes of debate on the motion to recommit. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require that the bill be reported back to the House with amendments inserting language which limit reasonable attorney fees.
2009-01-09 Mr. Price (GA) moved to recommit with instructions to Education and Labor.
2009-01-09 The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H135)
2009-01-09 DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 12.
2009-01-09 Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 11 and H.R. 12. Motion to recommit allowed. H. Res.5 provides one hour of debate each for H.R. 11 and H.R. 12. Both bills are to be considered in the House.
2009-01-09 Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 5. (consideration: CR H124-138)
2009-01-06 Rules Committee Resolution passed by House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 11 and H.R. 12. Motion to recommit allowed. H. Res.5 provides one hour of debate each for H.R. 11 and H.R. 12. Both bills are to be considered in the House.
2009-01-06 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

Same As/Similar To

HR5 (Related) 2009-01-06 - H. Res.5 provides one hour of debate each for H.R. 11 and H.R. 12. Both bills are to be considered in the House. Both H.R. 11 and H.R. 12 are considered read and are closed to amendments. After passage of both H.R. 11 and H.R. 12, the text of H.R. 12 shall be appended at the end of H.R. 11 as new matter and H.R. 12 shall be laid on the table.
SB182 (Related) 2010-03-11 - Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
SB3772 (Related) 2010-11-17 - Cloture on the motion to proceed to the bill not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 58 - 41. Record Vote Number: 249. (consideration: CR S7928-7929; text: CR S7928)

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