Congress Acts To Close Wage Gap

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338), introduced by Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) - ignoring a Presidential veto threat. The legislation aims to close the wage gap between men and women by strengthening and giving teeth to the Equal Pay Act and closing loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay. The bill, which enjoys the support of over 200 organizations, passed by a vote of 247-178.

"Today we build on the legacy of those who preceded us - those pioneers at Seneca Falls , as well as the women who blazed a path in the House. Today we stand up for working women and their families," said Congresswoman DeLauro. "As Members of Congress, my colleagues and I are fortunate to come to work everyday in this extraordinary institution - from different regions with different backgrounds and different experiences - but man and woman, we are paid equally. Every woman in this country deserves the same. Every family deserves to know that this institution will act today to make it real. It is about ensuring that women who work hard and productively and carry a full range of family responsibilities are paid at a rate they are entitled."

"Today the Congress has sent a message to women across the country that their work is valued. Equal pay is an issue of fundamental fairness. But, as families grapple with difficult economic times, equal pay for equal work is often about daily survival for millions of families. I commend Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro for her tenacious leadership, and my colleagues in Congress for their strong support of this essential legislation," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

"Women have shattered so many barriers in the 45 years since the Equal Pay Act was enacted. And for young women paving their way in the workforce today, the sky is the limit. But we still have work to do to truly level the playing field," said Senator Clinton, who has introduced companion legislation in the Senate (S. 776). "That's why I have championed the Paycheck Fairness Act to build on the promise of the Equal Pay Act and help close the pay gap. The Act would prevent, regulate and reduce pay discrimination for women across the country. I am proud that the House has passed this legislation to help ensure equality in the American workplace. I hope that we can take quick action on this measure in the Senate, and that the President will then do the right thing for these hard-working individuals and their families and sign this long overdue bill into law."

"This is a historic step forward in the fight for equal rights for women. It's a shame that so many women still struggle to receive equal pay for equal work," said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee. "Congress sends a clear message today that this injustice must not stand. If the Bush administration is truly committed to the principle of equal pay for women, they should immediately drop their veto threat and support this historic measure."

"I want to thank my friends Chairman Miller and Congresswoman DeLauro for all of their work on this issue," said Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey, the chair of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. "We have to remember that the Paycheck Fairness Act is about a lot more than fixing a couple of loopholes in a law that passed decades ago. It's about strengthening families, combating poverty, and finally recognizing that equal work deserves equal pay."

"Forty-five years after passage of the Equal Pay Act, it is shocking, and totally unacceptable, that women continue to be paid substantially less than men doing the same jobs," said Marcia D. Greenberger, Co-President of the National Women's Law Center . "The Paycheck Fairness Act is essential because current law is not up to the job of eliminating the discrimination that causes this wage gap."

"AAUW is proud to be a critical force behind passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, and action on the bill comes at an important time. In this economy, women are even more sensitive to issues of equal pay," said Lisa M. Maatz, director of public policy and government relations for the American Association of University Women. "Younger women especially also identify equal pay for equal work as a vote driver, and I suspect it'll be on the minds of a lot of women as they go to the polls in November."

The Paycheck Fairness Act reasserts the principle that women and men should be paid the same when doing the same work, and making it real by allowing female employees to sue for compensatory and punitive damages. It 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.

Forty four years after the Equal Pay Act was signed into law, pay discrimination still exists in the workplace. As a result, millions of American families lose out. According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, working women stand to lose $250,000 over the course of their career because of unequal pay practices. According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data, the wage gap continues to persist even though women posted a greater net increase in jobs paying above the median salary than men from 2000 to 2005. In 2005, the median weekly pay for men was $663 compared to 73 percent of that for women, who earned $486 a week on average.

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