[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4826]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             EQUAL PAY DAY

  (Mr. CASTRO of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Today on April 9, we recognize Equal Pay Day, 
symbolizing the more than 3 months into this year that women have to 
work in order for their wages to finally catch up to what their male 
colleagues earned last year.
  Nearly 50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay 
Act to protect workers from gender-based discrimination.
  Despite the hard work of countless folks to make pay equality a 
reality, women today still earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned 
by men doing the same kind of work. For women of color, the wage gap is 
even larger.
  Clearly, as a Nation, we have more work to do. That's why I'm a proud 
cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would reenforce the Equal 
Pay Act by closing loopholes and protecting employees from unfair 
retaliation.
  Twice now Democrats have passed this legislation in the House of 
Representatives only to have it blocked by Senate Republicans.
  Equal pay is not a partisan issue. And it's not only a women's issue. 
This is about America's founding principles of justice for all.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge you to bring this important legislation before 
the House for a full vote.

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