[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 57 (Friday, March 26, 2021)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           INTRODUCTION OF THE PAY EQUITY FOR ALL ACT OF 2021

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 26, 2021

  Ms. NORTON. Madam Speaker, I rise to introduce the Pay Equity for All 
Act of 2021, which would 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. 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 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. Last Congress, the House passed the Pay Equity for All Act as 
part of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7).
  The Pay Equity for All Act would help ensure that applicants' 
salaries are based on their skills and merit, not on salary history, by 
assessing penalties against employers that 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 that violate these 
provisions.
  There is much work to be done to address the wage gap. This bill 
would be an important step toward addressing these disparities.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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