Paycheck Fairness Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mrs. HARTZLER. Madam Chair, today I rise in opposition to H.R. 7. It is a deeply flawed bill that offers false promises while empowering lawyers and bureaucracy, not empowering women.

In fact, I agree with my colleague from Wyoming who said a minute ago it should not be called the Paycheck Fairness Act; it should be called the pay the trial lawyers act.

If there exists residual bias and discrimination against women in the workplace, it is wrong, and it needs to end. Since 1963, equal pay for equal work has been the law of the land under the Equal Pay Act.

Let me say that again. Since 1963, equal pay for equal work has been the law of the land. It is currently illegal for employers to pay different wages based on gender, and as the bill sponsor just said, there are currently mechanisms to address any wrongs that may be there.

While I appreciate the sentiment of the bill before us, I cannot support its flawed approach. The pay the trial lawyers act does not build on the Equal Pay Act. It does not offer women new protections against discrimination in the workplace. Instead, it encourages lawsuits against employers by offering the prospect of unlimited monetary damages.

The pay the trial lawyers act also creates an impossibly high burden of proof for job creators defending themselves in lawsuits.

Furthermore, the pay the trial lawyers act handicaps job creators, including women-owned businesses, by adding onerous compensation reporting requirements. The Federal bureaucracy will heap yet another burden on hardworking Americans if this passes.

So, Madam Chair, the pay the trial lawyers act does not build on the Equal Pay Act's success. Instead, it encourages lawsuits, hurts job creators, and empowers lawyers. Sadly, it also misses an opportunity to truly help women.

For these reasons, I urge my colleagues to join me in opposing this deeply flawed bill.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source