[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 91 (Friday, July 14, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S6837]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

  Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today in support of S. 74, The 
Paycheck Fairness Act. Over 30 years ago, President John Kennedy signed 
the Equal Pay Act into law. At that time women were making only 61 
cents for every dollar that was earned by a man. Since that time, we 
have made significant strides to ensure equality in the workplace, 
however, the disparity in wages between men and women still exists.
  Today, as a nation, women earn 74 cents for every dollar that a man 
earns. In Montana, the difference is even more significant, women are 
earning only 69 cents for every dollar that is earned by a man. This 
translates into more than $5,000 a year. This is unacceptable. We must 
have pay equity.
  In our state, and the country as a whole, women work a variety of 
jobs, from minimum wage jobs, to women who run their own businesses. 
The work that women do is not adequately reflected in the wages that 
they earn.
  In Montana we are faced with a unique situation--we are ranked almost 
last in per capita income. The economic boom that has created 
tremendous wealth on Wall Street hasn't echoed on Main Street, Montana. 
It is necessary to invest our resources to maintain our quality of life 
while creating good jobs and boosting our working families standard of 
living. If women were paid equitably, Montana families would greatly 
benefit. Family incomes would rise and, poverty rates would fall.
  Mr. President, pay equity is not the entire solution to the economic 
development challenge. It is part of a package, we must also invest in 
and protect our small businesses. After all, small business is the 
backbone of our economy. In order to improve jobs and wages in Montana 
and in the nation, we must maintain our educational systems. When we 
make additional investments in education and job training, we can 
attract new businesses to our state, increase our wages, and prepare 
our children for the jobs of tomorrow.
  If we are willing to do these things, economic growth will improve 
the quality of life for all men and women of Montana.

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