The House Education and Labor Committee approved the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338) on July 24, 2008 by a 26-17 vote. The bill would amend the Equal Pay Act to enhance remedies for sex-based pay disparities for women and men performing the same jobs. The bill could move to the House floor as early as this week. A companion bill (S.766) is pending before the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee. DOL Secretary Elaine Chao wrote a letter to Rep. George Miller (D-CA), committee chair, stating DOL’s strong opposition to the bill.
by Patricia Schaeffer, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs