DeLauro, Murray Reintroduce Paycheck Fairness Act
Every Democratic Member of the House has joined as an original cosponsor of the legislation
WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) today reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and guarantee that women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable. In the 116th Congress, the Paycheck Fairness Act will be designated H.R. 7.
“Women and men in the same job should have the same pay, and the Paycheck Fairness Act is a strong step forward in ensuring that we close the wage gap once and for all,” said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. “This legislation addresses the issue in a comprehensive and sensible manner—and it is long overdue. Our diverse and energetic Congress is poised to act on this legislation, and I look forward to its swift passage in the House of Representatives.”
“Congress passed the Equal Pay Act more than 50 years ago, but the sad reality is that today women, on average, still only make 80 centers for every dollar men make,” said Senator Patty Murray. “For women of color—the pay gap is even worse. African American women working full-time only make 61 cents for every dollar white men make and Latinas on average are paid 53 cents for every dollar their white male colleagues make. The gender wage gap doesn’t just hurt women—it hurts families, communities, and our economy. So I’m proud to introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act today to make important updates to the Equal Pay Act and reaffirm that every worker in America has the right to receive equal pay for equal work.”
“It is a pleasure to join Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Democrats from both chambers and advocates to introduce the Paycheck Fairness Act, which reaffirms our nation’s bedrock promise that equal work deserves equal pay,” said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. “Ten years after President Obama helped secure justice for women facing pay discrimination by making the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act the first bill he signed into law, Democrats are proud to build on that progress with this landmark legislation to end the injustice of pay inequity. The Democratic House is committed to fighting to fully unlock the economic power of women in our workplaces, which will lift up families, communities and the entire economy.”
“I’m proud to stand with Congresswoman DeLauro and House Democratic leaders in introducing the Paycheck Fairness Act in the 116th Congress,” said House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer. “Ten years ago, I brought the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to the Floor, which became the first piece of legislation President Obama signed into law. This bill would build on that effort by making it harder for employers to pay women less than men for the same work. House Democrats will use our Majority to advance an agenda that breaks down barriers to opportunity and helps every American achieve real economic security.”
“As chair of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I am making the Paycheck Fairness Act one of the Committee’s top priorities,” said Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03), Committee on Education and Labor. “Within the next month, we will hold a legislative hearing on this bill, and report it out of Committee shortly afterwards. This is our opportunity to strike a blow to the injustice of unequal pay. I look forward to joining my colleagues on the House Floor to cast a vote for final passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act.”
"Ten years ago, Congress and President Obama achieved an important victory for women seeking to challenge pay discrimination in court with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. But it was never intended for that bill to be passed as the only fix for the ongoing pay disparity between men and women," said Lilly Ledbetter. "Women across the country still need the tools in the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure they get equal pay for equal work. I applaud Congresswoman DeLauro for her leadership in this fight since 1997, as well as Speaker Pelosi for being a tireless advocate and making this a priority in the new Congress. Now is the time to get this done."
The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen and close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by holding employers accountable for discriminatory practices, ending the practice of pay secrecy, easing workers’ ability to individually or jointly challenge pay discrimination, and strengthening the available remedies for wronged employees. The House legislation has 240 cosponsors (every Democratic Member of the House and one Republican Member) and the Senate legislation has 45 cosponsors.
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