Dodd Statement on Anniversary of Equal Pay Act

Statement

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement today on the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. In 1963, President Kennedy signed the historic Equal Pay Act, which was the first piece of legislation aimed at eliminating wage disparities based on gender.

"Four decades ago, President Kennedy began the fight for pay equity - a fight that we continue today," said Dodd. "We have made significant progress in the last few years, including the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act that will allow women to continue to fight pay discrimination in court. But it is unacceptable that 47 years since the Equal Pay Act became law, we still do not have wage equality between women and men in the United States. That is why we must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will strengthen the Equal Pay Act, and it is why I continue to push for this Congress to pass this bill by the end of the year."

Dodd has been a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act for the past seven Congresses. The bill would put gender-based discrimination on an equal footing with racial or ethnic discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act. It would also make it easier for victims of pay discrimination to participate in class action suits; prohibit employers from punishing whistleblowers; and make it more difficult for employers to justify discrimination under the law. The Paycheck Fairness Act would also strengthen programs designed to monitor compliance with fair pay rules. The legislation currently has 40 cosponsors.

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