DeLauro Statement On Committee Passage Of The Paycheck Fairness Act
Press Release
Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) issued the following statement about the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338) following approval by the House Committee on Education and Labor. The Committee passed the legislation, which would prevent, regulate and reduce pay discrimination for women across the country, by a vote of 2617. DeLauro has long worked to close the wage gap between men and women, first introducing the Paycheck Fairness Act in 1997.
"Pay equity is not a women's issue. It is a family issue. And with Committee approval of the Paycheck Fairness Act, today marks one of my proudest moments in Congress.
"After years of hard-work, we are inches away from finally bringing to the floor the Paycheck Fairness Act for a vote by the full U.S. House of Representatives. Last year, when Nancy Pelosi broke the marble ceiling to be sworn-in as Speaker of the House, women and young girls across the country were inspired to know that there is no job in this country they cannot do, and with this legislation, we send a second message, that when they do land that job, they will no longer be underpaid - that we value the work women do.
"We have made strides in the American workplace during the last quarter century, but our work is not done. Closing the wage gap is about fairness, opportunity and values. By ensuring pay equity we can help families gain the resources they need to give their children a better future - the great promise of our American dream."
The Paycheck Fairness Act would create a training program to help women strengthen their negotiation skills, enforce equal pay laws for federal contractors and require the Department of Labor to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities by enhancing outreach and training efforts. Also, the bill would prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers and allow women to sue for punitive damages in addition to compensatory damages now available under the Equal Pay Act.
In addition to the support of numerous organizations, the legislation enjoys broad, bipartisan support in the Congress - 230 House cosponsors and 22 cosponsors of the Senate companion legislation introduced by Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barbara Mikulski.
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