[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 82 (Thursday, May 11, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE PAY EQUITY FOR ALL ACT OF 2017

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 11, 2017

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Pay Equity for All 
Act of 2017, a bill that will help eliminate the gender and racial pay 
gap by prohibiting employers from asking job applicants for their 
salary history before making a job or salary offer. Representatives 
Rosa Delauro, Jerrold Nadler, and Jackie Speier are original cosponsors 
of the bill. Even though many employers may not intentionally 
discriminate against applicants or employees based on gender, race or 
ethnicity, setting wages based on salary history can reinforce the wage 
gap. Members of historically disadvantaged groups often start out their 
careers with unfair and artificially low wages compared to their white 
male counterparts, and the disparities are compounded from job to job 
throughout their careers.
  Our bill will ensure that applicants' salaries are based on their 
skills and merit, not on a potentially problematic salary history, by 
assessing penalties against employers who ask applicants for their 
salary history during the interview process or as a condition of 
employment. It would also provide job applicants and employees with a 
private right of action against employers who violate these provisions.
  Although the wage gap has decreased for some women, it still persists 
for women and men of color with similar skill sets. There is much work 
to be done to address the wage gap for everyone, and our bill is just 
one step toward that goal.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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