[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 90 (Wednesday, June 6, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H6014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
(Mr. HARE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, according to the National Committee on Pay
Equity, working women stand to lose $250,000 over the course of their
careers because of unequal pay practices. While women's wages and
educational achievements have been rising, there's still a sizeable
gender wage gap. This is a national disgrace.
Unfortunately, last week's Supreme Court decision, Ledbetter v.
Goodyear, does little to achieve fairness for American workers. In a
narrow 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court threw out the case, not just
because she wasn't being discriminated against but because she filed
her claim too late.
This interpretation, which has been rejected by eight Federal appeals
courts and the EEOC, fails to realize that employees are discriminated
against every time they receive a discriminatory paycheck.
Congress needs to step in and stand up for ordinary people without
delay. We should move quickly to pass Congresswoman DeLauro's Paycheck
Protection Act that would provide remedies to women facing pay
discrimination.
Mr. Speaker, I don't want to live in an America where my daughter
earns less than my son for doing the same job.
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