Dodd, Mikulski Urge Support for Paycheck Fairness Act

Press Release

Dodd, Mikulski Urge Support for Paycheck Fairness Act

U.S. Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD) today issued a letter requesting their Senate colleagues support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which builds on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Equal Pay Act to help end gender discrimination in the workplace.

"In Connecticut women are paid only 76 cents for every dollar that men are paid," Dodd said. "That can translate to between $400,000 and $2 million in lost wages, pensions and social security benefits over a woman's lifetime. We simply cannot allow this type of discrimination to continue - women must be paid what they deserve to be paid."

"Women make this country run. We are business leaders, entrepreneurs, politicians, mothers and more. Yet we still earn just 78 cents for every dollar our male counterpart makes. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act was necessary to keep the courthouse door open for victims of pay discrimination, but we need the Paycheck Fairness Act to stop discrimination from happening in the workplace in the first place. By giving new teeth and a much-needed update to the Equal Pay Act of 1963, this bill will help empower women to negotiate for equal pay, create strong incentives for employers to obey the law, and strengthen enforcement efforts," Mikulski said.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would update and refresh the Equal Pay Act by creating stronger incentives for employers to follow existing discrimination laws, empower women to negotiate for equal pay, and strength federal outreach and enforcement efforts.

A copy of the letter appears below.

Dear Colleague:

Today we mark the 46th anniversary of the enactment of the Equal Pay Act (EPA). To this day, this law stands as the most sweeping statement of our national commitment to the principle of equal pay for equal work regardless of gender. Though the EPA has helped women make significant strides in the decades since its adoption, there is still a great deal of work to be done to close the wage gap once and for all. To accomplish that, we need to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. We urge you to consider cosponsoring this critically important legislation as we approach the anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. The Paycheck Fairness Act would provide a much needed update of the Equal Pay Act, closing longstanding loopholes and strengthening incentives to prevent pay discrimination.

In our view it is unacceptable that in today's workplace, women are paid just 78 percent of what their male counterparts make. Moreover, the wage gap is not isolated to a particular part of the socioeconomic spectrum. It persists across all levels of educational achievement and in all sectors of the economy. On average, this wage discrimination costs female workers between $400,000 and $2 million in lost wages, pensions, and Social Security benefits, threatening their long-term financial stability. Empowering women to close the wage gap is not only a matter of basic justice and fairness, but it will also represent a powerful economic investment. When women are paid what they deserve, they will be more secure and better able to care for their families.

Not only is this legislation necessary to further affirm our dedication to the principle of equal pay for equal work, but it is also a matter of urgent economic necessity. In the current economic recession, women are increasingly becoming the sole breadwinners for their families. Many of the industries hit hardest by the recession—such as manufacturing and construction—are heavily male-dominated, while industries that are female-dominated, like education and health care, have been less affected. Ensuring that these women are compensated fully and fairly will help to ensuring that families are able to make ends meet through these tough times.

The Paycheck Fairness Act (S.182/H.R.12) is a comprehensive bill that would update the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by taking meaningful steps to create stronger incentives for employers to follow the law, empower women to negotiate for equal pay, and strengthen federal outreach and enforcement efforts. The bill would also deter wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations and by prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages. This legislation—already approved by the House in January—is the next logical step following the recent enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored the ability of working women to have their day in court to combat wage discrimination. Women need the Paycheck Fairness Act to further the progress that has been made toward equal pay for equal work.

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