Senator Murray Reintroduces Paycheck Fairness Act to Close Gender Wage Gap
Paycheck Fairness Act
would strengthen and close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and
ensure women are paid what they deserve
Bill
introduction comes 10 years after President Obama passed the Lilly
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, marking an important step in the fight to end
the gender wage gap
Paycheck Fairness Act was cosponsored by 45 Senators and every Democratic Member of the House of Representatives
On
Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019, Sen. Murray met with Lilly Ledbetter, the
inspiration behind the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. Read Ms.
Ledbetter’s newly-published op-ed about the Paycheck Fairness Act here.
(Washington, D.C.)
– U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking member of the Senate
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee today
reintroduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would
strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and guarantee that women can
challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable. In the 116th
Congress, the Paycheck Fairness Act will be designated H.R. 7.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) introduced the companion legislation
in the House.
“Congress passed the
Equal Pay Act more than 50 years ago, but the sad reality is that today
women, on average, still only make 80 cents for every dollar men make,” said Senator Patty Murray.
“For women of color—the pay gap is even worse. African American women
working full-time only make 61 cents for every dollar white men make and
Latinas on average are paid 53 cents for every dollar their white male
colleagues make. The gender wage gap doesn’t just hurt women—it hurts
families, communities, and our economy. So I’m proud to introduce the
Paycheck Fairness Act today to make important updates to the Equal Pay
Act and reaffirm that every worker in America has the right to receive
equal pay for equal work.”
"Ten years ago, Congress and President Obama
achieved an important victory for women seeking to challenge pay
discrimination in court with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. But it
was never intended for that bill to be passed as the only fix for the
ongoing pay disparity between men and women," said Lilly Ledbetter.
"Women across the country still need the tools in the Paycheck Fairness
Act to ensure they get equal pay for equal work. I applaud
Congresswoman DeLauro for her leadership in this fight since 1997, as
well as Speaker Pelosi for being a tireless advocate and making this a
priority in the new Congress. Now is the time to get this done."
The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen and
close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by holding employers
accountable for discriminatory practices, ending the practice of pay
secrecy, easing workers’ ability to individually or jointly challenge
pay discrimination, and strengthening the available remedies for wronged
employees. The House legislation has 240 cosponsors (every Democratic
Member of the House and one Republican Member) and the Senate
legislation has 45 cosponsors.