Today Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) voted for the passage of H.R. 7, the Paycheck Fairness Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act seeks to address the gender pay gap by building upon The Equal Pay Act passed in 1963. This legislation will strengthen repercussions for employers practicing sex discrimination in pay and close loopholes in the original legislation.
"Despite the passage of the Equal Pay Act more than five decades ago, women still only make 82 cents on the dollar for the same work as their male counterparts," said Pappas. "This disparity is even more stark for women of color, who earn between 55 and 63 cents on the dollar. It is long past time we ensure women receive equal pay for equal work, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to take up this legislation immediately."
Specifically, Paycheck Fairness Act:
- Requires employers to prove that pay disparities exist for legitimate, job-related reasons.
- Bans retaliation against workers who voluntarily discuss or disclose their wages.
- Removes obstacles in the Equal Pay Act to facilitate a wronged worker's participation in class action lawsuits that challenge systemic pay discrimination.
- Makes improvements in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's (EEOC's) and the Department of Labor's tools for enforcing the Equal Pay Act.
- Provides assistance to all businesses to help them with their equal pay practices, recognizes excellence in pay practices by businesses, and empowers women and girls by creating a negotiation skills training program.
Original source can be found here.
