[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 14, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT

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                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 2023

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce the Salary Transparency 
Act, which would require employers to provide the salary range for jobs 
in advertisements and interviews and to existing employees.
  Several states have enacted laws relating to salary range disclosure, 
and the federal government should follow their lead and make this a 
nationwide requirement. Salary transparency is an important tool to 
combat the gender and race wage gap. Salary secrecy facilitates both 
intentional and unintentional pay discrimination and perpetuates the 
wage gap.
  Studies have consistently shown that when women negotiate for their 
salaries, they negotiate for less than similarly situated men. 
Frequently, this is because the salary they request is a certain 
percentage higher than their current salary. Because women on average 
make less than men, this practice perpetuates the wage gap. The same is 
true for people of color, who earn less on average than their white 
counterparts. Requiring employers to disclose the salary range for a 
position will help eliminate this harmful portion of the negotiation 
and lead to a reduction in the wage gap for women and minorities.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important bill.

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