[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 115 (Wednesday, July 13, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3276-S3277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   SENATE RESOLUTION 707--COMMEMORATING THE 57TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE 
     ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, 
 RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE COMMISSION IN ADDRESSING INEQUITIES 
 IN OUR ECONOMY, AND RECOGNIZING THE TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK LEFT TO 
 FURTHER PROTECT THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS, HOLD EMPLOYERS ACCOUNTABLE FOR 
   WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT, AND ADDRESS THE WAGE GAP

  Mrs. MURRAY (for herself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Casey, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Van 
Hollen, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Reed, 
Ms. Warren, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
Merkley, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Markey, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Booker, Mr. Peters, Ms. Smith, 
Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. King, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. 
Feinstein, Mr. Coons, Ms. Rosen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
Education, Labor, and Pensions:

                              S. Res. 707

       Whereas July 2, 2022, marks the 57th anniversary of the 
     formation of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``EEOC''), established 
     by title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e 
     et seq.);
       Whereas the mission of the EEOC is to prevent and remedy 
     unlawful employment discrimination and advance equal 
     opportunity for all in the workplace, including through 
     education, outreach, investigations, and litigation;
       Whereas the EEOC is responsible for enforcing Federal laws 
     that prohibit discrimination in employment, including 
     harassment and compensation discrimination, including--
       (1) section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 
     (commonly known as the ``Equal Pay Act of 1963'') (29 U.S.C. 
     206(d)), which prohibits employment discrimination on account 
     of sex in the payment of wages by employers;
       (2) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 
     2000e et seq.), which prohibits employment discrimination on 
     the basis of

[[Page S3277]]

     race, color, religion, national origin, and sex, including 
     gender identity and sexual orientation;
       (3) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 
     U.S.C. 621 et seq.), which prohibits employment 
     discrimination on the basis of age;
       (4) the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (Public Law 
     95-555), which prohibits employment discrimination on the 
     basis of pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical 
     condition;
       (5) title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 
     (42 U.S.C. 12111 et seq.) and sections 501 and 505 of the 
     Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 791, 794a), which 
     prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of 
     disability; and
       (6) title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination 
     Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. 2000ff et seq.), which prohibits 
     employment discrimination on the basis of genetic 
     information;
       Whereas, since 1965, the United States has made great 
     progress in ensuring equal opportunity and fair treatment in 
     the workplace for women, workers of color, workers with 
     disabilities, older workers, and other workers;
       Whereas title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 promises 
     workers that they can earn a paycheck without facing 
     discrimination or harassment in the workplace and without 
     fear of retaliation;
       Whereas the EEOC plays a vital role in making that promise 
     a reality by investigating workplace discrimination and 
     harassment, and by enforcing Federal anti-discrimination 
     statutes;
       Whereas, in fiscal year 2021, the EEOC resolved over 62,000 
     charges and recovered over $350,000,000 in remedies for 
     violations of anti-discrimination laws, and between fiscal 
     years 2018 and 2021, the EEOC received over 98,000 charges 
     alleging harassment, of which, over 27,000 were related to 
     sexual harassment;
       Whereas, despite the progress that has been made toward 
     equity and fairness in the workplace, the gender wage gap 
     persists, and according to the most recent data and updated 
     methodology, women were paid just 73 cents for every dollar 
     paid to men in 2020, with even greater disparities for women 
     of color;
       Whereas the EEOC's own extensive study of sexual harassment 
     in the workplace concluded that it is difficult to even know 
     how many individuals experience sexual harassment, a critical 
     first step to addressing harassment and ensuring that workers 
     feel safe; and
       Whereas tipped workers (who are largely low wage, women, 
     and immigrant workers) are more likely to experience 
     workplace harassment and retaliation, and account for 14 
     percent of harassment charges to the EEOC, a high share of 
     such harassment charges: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes the critical role the Equal Employment 
     Opportunity Commission (referred to in this resolution as the 
     ``EEOC'') plays in addressing longstanding issues including 
     the wage gap, combating workplace harassment, and ensuring 
     all workers, including LGBTQ+ workers, workers with 
     disabilities, pregnant workers, and workers of color, are 
     treated with dignity and respect in the workplace; and
       (2) recognizes the work that still remains to be done to 
     secure the rights and opportunities guaranteed by Federal 
     anti-discrimination laws, which ensure all workers have a 
     fair shot at success in the workplace.

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