Paycheck Fairness Act

Floor Speech

Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of equal pay for equal work for women.

June 10 marks the 50th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was passed, women made 59 cents to the dollar that men made. Fifty years later, women are still paid significantly less than men for their same work. Today, women earn 77 cents for every dollar men make.

Equal pay should not only be viewed as an issue of fairness; it is also an economic issue. The yearly gap of $8,200 the Sacramento women face could have been put to use paying off student loans, as part of a down payment for a new home, or invested for their retirement.

Paycheck fairness puts the money that women have rightfully earned into their pockets where it belongs. That's why I support the Paycheck Fairness Act and urge my colleagues to support this important legislation as well.

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