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H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act

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H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act

117th Congress · introduced 2021-01-28 · Labor and Employment · Latest: 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)

federal

Follow this bill, step by step

  1. Where it came from: introduced 2021-01-28 · official record
  2. Who proposed it: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] · what a sponsor is
  3. What happened next: 4 recorded votes in our records. Latest: Senate vote 227 (2021): On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed, HR7 (2021-06-08), Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected. See all
  4. Where it stands now: 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) Not final yet: this can still change. We check for updates every day.
  5. If it becomes law and spends money: follow the money to money laws, then agencies and contracts and grants.

What does this mean?

Official title

Paycheck Fairness Act

Plain summary

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.

Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

PSI Sci description of the legislative step (not an opinion).

What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Paycheck Fairness Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Passed House)

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The strongest published arguments

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How did my representative vote? · This bill's floor votes

Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] · 225 cosponsors

Cost estimate: CBO cost estimate: H.R. 7, Paycheck Fairness Act (2021-04-09)

Cosponsors on this site

Alma S. Adams (D-NC), Pete Aguilar (D-CA), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Ami Bera (D-CA), Donald S. Beyer, Jr. (D-VA), Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (D-GA), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Salud O. Carbajal (D-CA), André Carson (D-IN), Ed Case (D-HI), Sean Casten (D-IL), Kathy Castor (D-FL), Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Judy Chu (D-CA), Katherine M. Clark (D-MA), Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), James E. Clyburn (D-SC), Steve Cohen (D-TN), J. Luis Correa (D-CA), Jim Costa (D-CA), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Angie Craig (D-MN), Jason Crow (D-CO), Henry Cuellar (D-TX), Sharice Davids (D-KS), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), Madeleine Dean (D-PA), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Veronica Escobar (D-TX), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) and 165 more.

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] reported raising $1.6 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Recorded votes

Words on this page, explained (2)
Bill
A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Rulemaking
The process agencies use to write regulations that carry out laws passed by Congress or a legislature. Usually an agency publishes a proposed rule, takes public comments, then publishes a final rule.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Record fed-us-cong117-hr7 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong117 · updated 2026-11-15 by psicol fed-bills-cong117