[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11971]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       THE PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT

  (Ms. SPEIER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SPEIER. Madam Speaker, 45 years ago today, President Kennedy 
signed a law to end what he called the ``unconscionable practice of 
paying female workers less wages than male workers for the same job.''
  When President Kennedy signed the law, women earned 60 cents for 
every dollar earned by a man. In 2006, the woman's share is 77 cents. 
While we have made some progress in 45 years, it is scant at best. 
Since 1963 the ratio has narrowed by less than one-half cent per year. 
At this rate, my 13-year-old daughter will be close to retirement by 
the time President Kennedy's order is realized.
  That is why I am cosponsoring H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act, 
which adds teeth to previous laws.
  Equal pay for equal work is as American as a principle can be. This 
is not about men versus women, but basic fairness. And its 
ramifications affect everyone. Paying women less hurts men who aren't 
hired because hiring a woman is cheaper. It hurts families by devaluing 
the work of women and mothers who are already paying out of pocket for 
child care so they can pursue a career. In short, it hurts all of 
America, and it must end right here, right now.

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