OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Providing for Consideration of H. Res. 676, Authorization to Initiate Litigation for Actions by the President; Providing for Consideration of H.R. 935, Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2013; and Providing for Proceedings During the Period From August 1, 2014, Through September 5, 2014

Floor Speech

Date: July 30, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Unemployed and Low-Income Women Employment and Affirmative Action Economy and Fiscal

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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the previous question because defeating it will allow an amendment that provides for consideration of legislation that will, in fact, create jobs, grow the economy, support small businesses, ensure equal pay, and alleviate the financial burdens on working families today.

There are so many things we can and should be doing right now to spur the economy for the American people. We need to help workers. We need to help them find opportunities. We need to achieve higher pay for their hard work.

Instead of considering those many bills, this Republican majority continues to waste this institution's time by pushing a partisan lawsuit against the President. This is the first time in history that a branch of Congress has tried to sue a President. My God, what a legacy you leave.

Americans are tired of partisan dysfunction. They want to see us working to solve their problems, and defeating that previous question will allow us to have a vote today on something very important to American families, and that is equal pay for equal work.

Women in America face overwhelming financial challenges. They are more likely to be poor, make minimum wage, go bankrupt, less likely to have retirement security. Women still only make 77 cents, on average, for every dollar made by men. That is $11,000 lost wages every single year, and over the course of a career, that adds up to $434,000 lost.

I have introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act in every Congress since 2007. It passed the House twice with bipartisan support. It would ensure that women receive equal pay for equal work.

A famous American once said, and I quote: ``Mind you, I believe in marriage and children and home, but I'm not one of the kind that think that God made women to do nothing but to sit at home in the ashes and tend to babies. He made her to be as good as man, and he made her better too ..... If a woman can do the same work that a man can do and do it just as well, she should have the same pay.''

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