Paycheck Fairness Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, let me be very clear: Equal pay for equal work has never been a reality for women in America.

Congress recognized this for the first time 56 years ago, before I was even born, when the Equal Pay Act was passed. This was a foundational piece of civil rights legislation. But a half century later, it is clear that the Equal Pay Act isn't working for everyone, and it isn't working fast enough.

In my district, for every dollar that men in Naperville or Batavia or McHenry make, women make 71 cents. That is the worst pay gap in Illinois. It means we have to work at least 10 years longer to earn the same lifetime income. At this rate, every woman in America wouldn't make equal pay for doing the same work for almost 200 years.

In my community in Illinois, the 14th Congressional District isn't willing to wait that long, and neither are the House Democrats. That is why I am standing here today as a cosponsor and strong supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act. There is no point in a woman's life, from childhood to retirement, where the gender pay gap doesn't hurt her. The Paycheck Fairness Act would take huge, critical steps to fix that.

The Committee on Education and Labor held hearings on the act, and we heard from experts how this bill would do things like lift children out of poverty, contribute billions of dollars to America's economy, and make sure women have a safer, healthier retirement.

Madam Chair, I include in the Record a letter signed by 315 State, local, and national organizations that support the Paycheck Fairness Act.

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Ms. UNDERWOOD. Madam Chair, I also want to acknowledge the hard work and leadership of Chairman Scott, Representative DeLauro, and committee staff on the issue of equal pay.

This is a bipartisan bill with support from both parties. I encourage my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting the Paycheck Fairness Act and take this important step toward ending gender-based discrimination at work.

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