[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 84 (Thursday, May 26, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3256-S3257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  URGING THE UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION TO IMMEDIATELY ELIMINATE 
                          GENDER PAY INEQUITY

  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I am delighted to be here today with the 
senior Senator from Maryland, a longtime champion for women in this 
country and their access to equal pay, because in our country, women in 
the workplace--no matter where they live, no matter their background, 
no matter what career they choose--on average earn less than their male 
colleagues. That wage gap even exists and extends to Olympic gold 
medalists and World Cup champions who are playing for our U.S. women's 
national soccer team.
  Today we are on the floor to show support for the women's national 
soccer team and to affirm the sense of the Senate that we support equal 
pay for equal work for all women in our country.
  Just last year we all cheered on the women's national soccer team as 
they beat Japan 5 to 2 to win the World Cup. In the past three 
Olympics, our women's team has brought home the gold, and their team is 
ranked first in the world.
  But despite all of those tremendous successes, these players do not 
get paid on par with their male counterparts. Think about the young 
girls who are watching who see these players at the top of their game 
valued less than men. These are some of the most visible athletes in 
the world.
  In 2015, 750 million people in the world tuned in to watch the 
Women's World Cup. Twenty-five million of those viewers were here in 
the United States. So this isn't just about the money. It is about the 
message it sends to women and girls across our country and the world.
  The pay gap between the men's and the women's national soccer teams 
is emblematic of what is happening across our country. On average, 
women get paid just 79 cents for every dollar a man makes. This is at a 
time when women more than ever are likely to be the primary breadwinner 
of their family. The wage gap isn't just unfair to women. It hurts our 
families, and it hurts our economy.
  Carli Lloyd is a cocaptain of the U.S. women's national soccer team. 
Last year she scored three of the five goals in the final World Cup 
match. A few months ago, she was one of the players who filed a wage 
discrimination case with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  Shortly after the news of that have case broke, Carli Lloyd said: 
``We are not backing down anymore.''
  I know my Democratic colleagues won't back down in the fight for 
equal pay, but on the Senate floor today, we have a chance to show our 
support for women athletes and women in the workforce who get paid less 
than their male colleagues.
  Two weeks ago, I, along with 21 of my colleagues, introduced S. Res. 
462 to make clear that pay discrimination is wrong. This resolution 
urges U.S. Soccer to end pay disparities and treat all athletes with 
respect and with dignity, and it expresses our strong support to end 
the pay gap and strengthen equal pay protections.
  We are here to give the Senate the opportunity to take a stand with 
the members of the U.S. Soccer women's team against the pay gap and 
wage discrimination and to support this legislation.
  I will offer the resolution in just a minute, but before I do, I turn 
the floor over to my senior colleague. I hope that once this resolution 
is adopted, if we can get it adopted, we can support the equal pay for 
equal work that she has championed for so many years.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
  Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise today to join my distinguished 
colleague from Washington State, a longstanding advocate for women and 
children and, really, fundamental fairness.
  Today I join her in urging that the U.S. Soccer Federation end the 
gender gap and stop kicking women around. Women across our country are 
still paid less than men, just 79 cents for every $1 a man makes. This 
wage gap is felt by all women, even champions playing for the U.S. 
women's soccer team.
  These champions won the World Cup last year. They brought in $20 
million more in revenue than the men's team, but they are paid four 
times less.
  When do we reward victory? When do we reward being a champion? How 
about equal pay for equal work? They belong on the same types of 
playing fields.
  Those women are taking action by going to the EEOC Commission, and it 
is time to score one for equality. Equal pay for all must be our goal. 
We want equal pay for equal work, whether we are U.S. Senators, nurses, 
executive assistants, or whether we are professional athletes.
  I stand with the women's soccer team and women across the United 
States in their fight for equal wages. They kick the ball around, but 
we are getting tired of being kicked around. Give us equal pay for 
equal work. Let's change the lawbook--the Federal lawbook--so that they 
can change their checkbook.
  Why should our women go to the Olympics and go for the gold when they 
aren't paid the gold.
  Let's pass this resolution. Let's show our support for the U.S. 
women's soccer team. Let's set an example for young girls, soccer 
athletes, daughters, nieces, and granddaughters. Let's pass the 
Paycheck Fairness Act, but today let's start with passing this 
resolution.
  This is a real-world solution in support of them, but it really 
highlights the fact that we not only adopt resolutions, but we want to 
adopt solutions to finish the job that we started with equal pay.
  I compliment the Senator from Washington State for bringing this 
resolution to the floor.
  Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Last month, the national women's soccer team filed a 
complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
  The complaint states that women are paid just 40 percent of what men 
are paid--despite the fact that our women's soccer team has long been 
one of the best in the world. The team has won four of the last five 
Olympic Gold Medals and three of the last seven World Cups.
  However, the wage gap between the men and women's team is stark. 
Women are paid $3,600 per game while men are paid $5,000 per game. 
Women soccer players are awarded a win bonus of $1,350 per game. In 
contrast, male soccer players are awarded win bonuses of between $6,250 
and $17,625 per game.
  That is up to 13 times more. This differential is so significant that 
a woman player who wins all 20 exhibition games would still make $1,000 
less than a male player who lost all 20 exhibition games.
  Women soccer players are even given smaller per-diems when they 
travel. Women receive $50 per day, while men receive $62.50 per day. 
These examples represent the pervasiveness of wage discrimination in 
this country.
  The most successful women's soccer team in the world still earns just 
40 cents for every dollar earned by men, and that needs to change. The 
Senate should stand in solidarity with the national women's soccer team 
and pass this resolution.
  Of course, what is happening to the women's soccer team isn't an 
isolated event. It is indicative of a much broader, entrenched problem 
in this country.
  Women are still paid just 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. 
This means that every woman who works full time is paid $10,700 less--
every year.
  This gap has a significant effect on the economic security of working 
families--40 percent of women are the primary or sole breadwinners in 
their families.
  That means 40 percent of families depend on women's wages to pay the 
bills. Every dollar women lose to the wage gap makes a difference.
  Here are just a few examples of what the wage gap costs families: 
$10,700 is more than 1 year's worth of groceries for a family of 4, 7 
months of mortgage and utility payments, or 11 months of rent.

[[Page S3257]]

  The wage gap is even bigger for African-American and Latino women. 
African-American women are paid just 60 cents. Hispanic women are paid 
just 55 cents. We can't allow this discrimination to continue.
  The wage gap is a national problem. It affects all women, and the 
Senate must take action. The Paycheck Fairness Act is a good place to 
start.
  I have long supported this bill, which is sponsored by Senator 
Barbara Mikulski. The Paycheck Fairness Act would protect women from 
retaliation if they ask about wages and require employers to justify 
paying women less than men for the same job.
  Women often don't know they are being paid less than men, and making 
the system more transparent will help reduce the wage gap. The bill 
would also make it easier for women to take legal action under the 
Equal Pay Act, including class action lawsuits.
  Under current law, it is significantly easier to recoup lost wages if 
they were denied through other discriminatory practices, like failure 
to pay overtime. Lastly, the bill would create a training program to 
help women negotiate their salaries.
  This is a commonsense bill and one that is long overdue. President 
John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963. At the time, women 
made 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. In 53 years, we have only 
closed the gap by 16 cents.
  At this rate, it will not be eliminated until 2059. Women and their 
families deserve better, and they can't afford to wait that long. I 
strongly urge the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and the 
resolution before us today.
  In closing, the Senate has an opportunity to stand up for equal pay 
for the women's soccer team--and all American women--by adopting this 
resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the HELP 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 462 and 
the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 462) urging the United States Soccer 
     Federation to immediately eliminate gender pay inequity and 
     treat all athletes with the same respect and dignity.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I know of no further debate at this time 
on this resolution and ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to vote on adoption of the resolution.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  If there is no further debate, the question is on agreeing to the 
resolution.
  The resolution (S. Res. 462) was agreed to.
  Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the preamble 
be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table with 
no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  (The resolution, with its preamble, is printed in the Record of May 
12, 2016, under ``Submitted Resolutions.'')
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wisconsin.

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