[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 58 (Thursday, May 11, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E711]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        COMMITTING TO EQUAL PAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DAVID E. BONIOR

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2000

  Mr. BONIOR. Mr. Speaker, today more women are working than ever 
before. The number of working women has grown from 18.4 million in 1950 
and to 63 million in 1997. Women made up 29.6 percent in 1950 and 46.2 
percent in 1997. Our nation depends on the contributions of working 
women. And equal pay has been the law of the land since 1963. Yet today 
is Equal Pay Day--the day when women's earnings from January 1999 to 
May 11, 2000 will finally equal what men earned in 1999 alone. 37 years 
later after the enactment of the Equal Pay Act, women are still paid 
less than men--even with similar education, skills and experience. It's 
time we ensure women can make ends meet and find respect and 
opportunity on the job.
  In 1996, women were paid 74 cents for every dollar men received. 
That's $26 less to spend on groceries, housing, child care and other 
expenses for every $100 worth of work. Over a lifetime of work, the 26 
cents-on-the-dollar adds up. The average working woman will lose 
$523,000 to unequal pay during her working life.
  Ensuring equal pay for equal work is about improving the lives of 
families. In the United States, 99 out of every 100 women will work for 
pay at some point in their lives. 71.9 percent of women with children 
younger than 18 are in the labor force. This means the wage gap doesn't 
just shortchange women. It hurts children and families because many 
working women are the primary breadwinners in their households. In 
fact, nearly two-thirds of working women provide half or more of their 
household income, and forty-one percent are the sole source of income. 
Many families need two full paychecks to get by every month. One full 
paycheck and one three-quarters paycheck just doesn't cut it.
  That's one of the reasons I am a proud cosponsor of the Paycheck 
Fairness Act. This legislation will help us to be better enforce the 
Equal Pay Act. It will put wage discrimination on the basis of gender 
on the same footing as wage discrimination on the basis of race or 
ethnicity.
  The Paycheck Fairness Act will toughen the remedy provisions of the 
Equal Pay Act. It will strengthen enforcement of the Equal Pay Act by 
committing more resources to the Equal Employment Opportunity 
Commission. It will improve education and outreach on differentials 
between women and men in the workplace, and lift the gag rule imposed 
by many employers who forbid employees to discuss their wages with co-
workers.
  I believe most employers want to treat their workers fairly. But for 
those employers who reward the hard work and loyalty of women with a 
partial paycheck, we need such measures as the Paycheck Fairness Act to 
put a stop to their wrongdoing.
  Mr. Speaker, 37 years is long enough to wait for equity. It's time we 
join together and end the wage gap.

                          ____________________