[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8299]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         COMMEMORATING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE OF THE EQUAL PAY ACT

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 10, 2013

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, today, June 10th, 2013, marks the 50th 
anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. By mandating equal pay for equal 
work, this landmark legislation improved the standard of living for 
women across America. In 1963, when President Kennedy signed the Equal 
Pay Act, women who worked full-time earned 59 cents on average for 
every dollar earned by men. In a country where equality, progress, and 
hard-work are valued, legislation such as the Equal Pay Act continues 
to stand for those values and promote progress and equality for all 
Americans.
  Indeed the Equal Pay Act has allowed for much progress in the work 
place. Today, women who work full-time make 77 cents on average for 
every dollar earned by men. Compared to the rate of 59 cents on the 
dollar in 1963, this is progress, but not nearly enough. Women are 
still left wanting in terms of equality in the workplace.
  When compared to their Caucasian counterparts, the pay gap for 
African American and Latina Women is even greater. African American 
women on average earn only 64 cents and Latina women on average earn 
only 55 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men.
  According to nationwide data, the yearly pay gap is $11,084 between 
full-time working men and women. The National Partnership for Women and 
Families has calculated that $11,084 could purchase 89 more weeks of 
food, could cover more than a year's worth of rent, or pay for more 
than 3,000 additional gallons of gas. These are vital and necessary 
expenses for American families.
  Although women are directly affected by the Equal Pay Act, it is 
important to recognize that this is not only a woman's issue. When 
women are paid less, sons, husbands, daughters, foster children, 
dependent parents--in short families--suffer. It is, therefore, our 
responsibility, the representatives of these families, to continue to 
support and push for equality. This is one reason why Democrats 
strongly advocate passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would 
update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act for the first time in 50 years. 
The Paycheck Fairness Act strengthens the Equal Pay Act, by closing 
loopholes, including:
  Prohibiting employers from retaliating when workers discuss their 
salaries; making gender-based wage discrimination subject to the same 
remedies as race-based wage discrimination; recognizing employers for 
excellence in pay practices and providing assistance to employers that 
need help implementing equal pay practices; and Enhancing the federal 
government's ability to investigate and enforce pay discrimination 
laws.
  A Democratic-led House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act in the 110th 
and 111th congresses but both times Republicans blocked the bill in the 
Senate. Fifty years ago we had the opportunity to celebrate progress. 
Today, we have the opportunity to fight for continued progress in our 
country. I stand today in support of women, in support of families, in 
support of the Equal Pay Act, and in support of, the Paycheck Fairness 
Act. It is time to move forward. I urge all my colleagues to join me in 
support of equality, so that 50 years from now, we may all be able to 
celebrate the progress we are fighting for today.

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