Providing for Consideration of H.R. Paycheck Fairness Act, and Providing for Consideration of H.Res. Opposing Ban on Transgender Members of Armed Forces

Floor Speech

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Ms. FRANKEL. Madam Speaker, this is a great day in America. I am so proud to say that as the Congress considers these bills that protect and advance human rights.

I rise today, specifically, to talk about the Paycheck Fairness Act, because men and women should be able to be paid the same for doing the same work.

I thank my colleagues, Rosa DeLauro and the committee chairman, Bobby Scott, for their advancement of this great legislation.

Madam Speaker, I want to tell you a story, the story of a young lawyer who worked in the public defender's office. Her job was to represent people accused of crimes like murder and robbery. She was a free lawyer for them. It was very high pressure, and it was very grueling, but she loved it.

When she got the job, she was told a rule: Nobody talks about salary in this office.

But one day, she found out that a male colleague was doing the same job, and he had similar credentials, but he made much more money. She was making $18,000 a year. He was making $20,000.

When she asked her boss why, she was told that he, the male attorney, had a wife and children to take care of.

Madam Speaker, that was me. That happened to me 40 years ago.

It was then and still today is a very common experience to millions of women who are still earning 80 cents on the dollar that men make, and actually much less for women of color. It still makes me angry to think about my own experience, but I am not complaining about my own life journey. Fortunately, I have a job now that pays me the same as my male colleagues. I am so happy I am in a position to do something about this today.

As a result of lower lifetime earnings and different work patterns, women are hit hard in retirement.

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Ms. FRANKEL. I am too excited, Madam Speaker.

This is why so many women end up in poverty. I want to just say this over and over: women go to work for the same reason men go to work, and that is to take care of their families. Regardless of the circumstance's agenda, we deserve to be paid equally. This Paycheck Fairness Act is going to allow workers to talk openly about their pay. It is going to prohibit asking about salary histories. It is going to require bosses to prove disparities exist for discrimination.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill because when women succeed, America succeeds.

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