The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E1697-E1698 on Aug. 1, 2008.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
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speech of
HON. BETTY McCOLLUM
of minnesota
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 31, 2008
The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1338) to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and for other purposes.
Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338). This is a historic day in the fight for equal rights for women, and I would like to thank Speaker Pelosi, Congresswoman DeLauro, and Chairman Miller for their leadership in this issue.
Women have made great strides in the American workplace during the last quarter century. Women are now more likely to have advanced degrees, own businesses, and make up nearly half the workforce. When Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi was sworn in as Speaker of the House, women and young girls were inspired to know that there is no job a woman in this country cannot do. As we send our young female graduates into the workforce we must ensure that they receive equal pay for equal work.
Although the wage gap has narrowed since the passage of the landmark Equal Pay Act in 1963, gender-based wage discrimination remains a problem for women in the workforce. It is unacceptable that women continue to earn just 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, and pay disparity can be even worse for minority women. This wage disparity will cost women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over a lifetime in lost wages. Furthermore, the wage disparity grows wider as women age and threatens their economic security, retirement, and quality of life.
The Paycheck Fairness Act will make commonsense reforms to strengthen the Equal Pay Act and close the loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay. It would require employers seeking to justify unequal pay to bear the burden of proving that their actions are justified, and allow women to sue for punitive damages. This bill would also prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers. Finally, it would create a training program to help women strengthen their negotiation skills, and require the Department of Labor to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities by enhancing outreach and training efforts.
The Paycheck Fairness Act recognizes that equal pay is not only an issue of fairness for women, but also one of fairness for working families. In these tough economic times, this bill could make all the difference for working families to make ends meet in their everyday lives. Through these efforts we can help give families the resources they need to give their children a better future. Pay equity should not be a benefit that needs to be bargained for, it is a promise that the Government must ensure.
I urge my colleagues to rise in support of this bill to ensure economic security for women and their families. Through this legislation we can ensure a better future for our daughters, granddaughters, and generations to come.
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