OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Paycheck Fairness Act

Floor Speech

Date: June 5, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Employment and Affirmative Action Arts, Entertainment, and History

Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, on June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the bipartisan Equal Pay Act, which requires equal pay for equal work. A great idea, but 50 years later women earn 77 cents for every dollar men make--a yearly gap of over $11,000 between working men and women. Women of color earn even less.

Does anyone think that if this Congress were a majority of women, that this bill would still be stonewalled from even being debated in this House and by this Republican majority? We would debate the Paycheck Fairness Act right away.

Since most American families rely on women's wages, the pay gap means $11,000 less every year for their groceries, rent, and doctors' visits. And the effects last a lifetime, resulting in lower pensions and Social Security benefits.

Fifty years--a half a century--is far too long for women to wait for paycheck fairness. Here is a little warning: women may not be a majority here now, but we are a majority of voters.

Let's pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.


Source
arrow_upward