[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S4760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Gender Pay Inequality

  Madam President, this team represents our entire country and the best 
of our Nation. Their performance highlighted an issue that they raised, 
which I hope this body will respond to, and that is the pay inequity 
based upon gender in this country.
  It is shocking that these women soccer players are paid less, receive 
less in compensation than their male counterparts, even though the 
women on the world stage have consistently outperformed the men. They 
have a different pay structure. In 2014, the men's total performance 
bonus totaled about $5.4 million, even though they were eliminated in 
the round of 16. The following year, the women received about one-third 
less than the men did, even though they were the world champions.
  In 2016, this body acted by passing a resolution about the gender pay 
inequity--to treat all athletes with the respect and dignity they 
deserve. That was the right thing for us to pass in 2016, and I know my 
colleague Senator Manchin is working on legislation now that will 
follow that up since, obviously, the soccer league did not respond the 
way they should have in regard to our women's national soccer team.
  In 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act. Yet, when you look at 
what women earn versus men for comparable work, women are paid 77 cents 
for every dollar a man earns. It is much worse for minorities. Native 
Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders versus White males are 62 cents versus 
a dollar; African-American women are 61 cents versus a dollar for a 
White male; Native Americans are 58 cents; and Latinos are 53 
cents. The wage gap affects not only their current earnings, but it 
puts women behind men in career earnings of around $400,000 during the 
course of their careers, which weakens their ability to save for their 
retirements. It also means there being fewer Social Security benefits. 
It affects their ability to be compensated fairly--to have the wealth 
of this Nation and the security of this Nation.

  We can do something to change this. I have already mentioned Senator 
Manchin's efforts and that we could do something specifically in regard 
to the soccer players, but I urge us to do something a little bit more 
permanent, and that is to pass the Equal Rights Amendment.
  I think Americans would be surprised to learn that in the 
Constitution of the United States, there is no protection for equal 
rights for women. Most Americans think we already did that. Any 
constitution of a democratic State that has been created since the end 
of World War II has contained constitutional protections for equal 
rights for women. Many of our State constitutions have provisions for 
equal rights for women, but our Constitution of the United States does 
not.
  In 1972, the Congress of the United States passed an equal rights 
amendment to the Constitution to be ratified by the States. Originally, 
Congress gave the States until 1979. Then Congress extended it until 
1982. Now 37 States have ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. We are 
one State short of the 38 required for the ratification of a 
constitutional amendment. Yet there is a problem here. We need to get 
the 38th State, but we also need to extend the time, for the last 
amendment that dealt with the pay amendments of Congress that was 
adopted to our Constitution took over 200 years to ratify.
  What we are saying--and I have joined with Senator Murkowski in a 
bipartisan resolution--is to let us extend the time for the 
ratification of the constitutional amendment for the equal rights of 
women so we can really do something meaningful for the gender gap on 
pay that we have.
  In this Congress, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of women's 
suffrage--since women have had the right to vote. Another concrete way 
to celebrate that milestone is for us to pass the Equal Rights 
Amendment. How a nation treats its women economically and socially is a 
sign of that nation's success. Empowering women is one of the most 
important things we can do for the future of our country. Whether it 
occurs on the soccer pitch or in the factories or offices across the 
country, the wage disparity between American men and women is hurting 
our Nation.
  This morning, the U.S. women's national soccer team rolled down 
Broadway in a ticker tape parade befitting a world championship, and 
today or tomorrow, the Senate will likely pass a resolution that will 
commend the team. These are appropriate ways to celebrate the team. 
Yet, if we really want to honor the outstanding women who have just 
brought home the World Cup again, we should join their fight for equal 
pay for themselves and for all women. Pass S.J. Res. 6, and let's 
finally ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we begin 
the 4:30 p.m. vote.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.