OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Providing For Consideration Of H.R. 1338, Paycheck Fairness Act

Floor Speech

Date: July 31, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Women Employment and Affirmative Action

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Ms. CASTOR. I thank the chairwoman for yielding time and thank her for her career of championing nondiscrimination and equal rights for women in the workplace.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to rise today in strong support of the Paycheck Fairness Act and this rule and take another important step towards equality for all Americans. During the 230 plus-year history of our great Nation, the march towards equality under the law for all of our citizens has sometimes been slow, but it has been steady.

Over time, the Congress has outlawed discrimination in the workplace based upon a person's race, gender, age, national origin, religion, and disability, because when it comes to employment and hiring and firing and promotion and compensation, decisions are rightly based upon a person's qualifications and job performance.

These are the values we share as Americans; that if someone works hard and plays by the rules, and if they share the same job, duties and responsibilities, no matter that they are a man or a woman, they will receive equal pay for equal work. Unfortunately, that does not always happen, and sometimes women are paid less just because they are women and the boss can get away with it. The wage disparity over time can cost women over $400,000 to $2 million in lost wages.

This Paycheck Fairness Act addresses that disparity by providing more effective remedies for gender-based wage discrimination and ensuring that if a case goes all the way to a jury, that the arbitrary and outdated caps on damages will be addressed.

Thank you to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. She introduced this legislation 11 years ago, but she never gave up. Congresswoman DeLauro, we are not going to give up just because the President has threatened to veto the measure. I'd also like to thank Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Chairman George Miller, and Chairwoman Louise Slaughter for their leadership and commitment to equality under the law for all Americans.

Passing this historic Paycheck Fairness Act will bring our Nation closer to our promise of equality for all Americans. It is a hopeful day for working women and families, and I urge a ``yes'' vote on their behalf.

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