by Patricia Schaeffer, Vice President-Regulatory Affairs
- House Passes Paycheck Fairness Act; President Bush Opposes: The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338). The White House, however, issued a statement of administration policy indicating the president intends to veto the legislation, if presented to him. The Paycheck Fairness Act would amend the Equal Pay Act to enhance remedies for sex-based disparities in pay for women and men performing the same jobs. The President’s statement is consistent with the letter of opposition to the bill submitted by DOL Secretary Elaine Chao to the House Education and Labor Committee.
- House Approves E-Verify Bill: The U.S. House of Representatives approved the "Employee Verification Act of 2008" (H.R. 6633) without amendment to extend E-Verify, the federal government’s electronic employment verification system, for five years. The bill would also authorize two Government Accountability Office studies about aspects of the program. E-Verify would remain a voluntary program under the bill.