[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 58 (Friday, April 15, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         NATIONAL EQUAL PAY DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, April 15, 2016

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the importance of 
Equal Pay Day.
  As a co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues Task 
Force on Women of Color, I have always believed that equal pay should 
be a universal right for all citizens regardless of gender.
  Equal Pay Day is a time to reflect and renew our shared dedication 
and responsibility to eliminate pay inequalities in the workforce.
  Equal Pay Day is the date in the current year that represents the 
extra days a typical woman working full-time would have to work just to 
make the same as a typical man did in the previous year.
  Women in America still earn an average of 78 cents to a man's dollar, 
even after having attained the same level of experience and education.
  For women of color:
  60 cents on the dollar for the typical Black woman.
  55 cents on the dollar for the typical Hispanic woman.
  The gender pay gap in the United States is among the largest of many 
industrialized nations.
  On average there's a yearly pay gap of $11,084.
  At this rate, the wage gap will not close completely for another 40 
years; costing women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over a 
lifetime in lost wages.
  Women make up nearly half of our workforce, therefore this disparity 
impacts us all.
  The wage gap not only disadvantages women who worked just as hard to 
earn less, it also hurts those families supported by women's incomes.
  Pay discrimination puts greater strain on families to cover costs 
like child care or health care, and it holds our economy back from 
achieving its full potential.
  The Paycheck Fairness Act is a commonsense measure that will bolster 
the ability of women to fight pay discrimination.
  This women's Equity measure will:
  Require that employers seeking to justify unequal pay bear the burden 
of proving that its actions are job-related and consistent with a 
business necessity.
  Prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share 
salary information with their co-workers.
   Put gender-based discrimination sanctions on equal footing with 
other forms of wage discrimination--such as race, disability or age--by 
allowing women to sue for compensatory and punitive damages.
  Require the Department of Labor to enhance outreach and training 
efforts to work with employers in order to eliminate pay disparities.
  Require the Department of Labor to continue to collect and 
disseminate wage information based on gender.
  Create a new grant program to help strengthen the negotiation skills 
of girls and women.
  This Equal Pay Day, we celebrate the Paycheck Fairness Act.
  Mr. Speaker, Equal Pay Day restores the American promise, an idea 
that with hard work, anyone can reach their dreams and know no limits 
but the scope of their aspirations.
  I believe in equal pay for equal work, and we need to rededicate 
ourselves to building a future in which women are paid based on their 
merits.

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