"The Equal Pay Act was an important step forward, giving women the chance to be full, equal participants in the workforce and to earn equal pay for equal work. Women have shattered so many barriers in the 45 years since the Equal Pay Act was enacted. And for young women paving their way in the workforce today, the sky is the limit. But we still have work to do to truly level the playing field.
That's why I have championed the Paycheck Fairness Act to build on the promise of the Equal Pay Act and help close the pay gap. The Act would take concrete steps forward to empower women to negotiate for equal pay, create better incentives for employers to follow existing law, and strengthen federal outreach and enforcement efforts. I have also called on the Government Accountability Office to investigate the role the federal government has played and can play to remedy pay inequities in the workplace.
We can honor this milestone by continuing to move forward. Enacting the Paycheck Fairness Act would help ensure equality in the American workplace.”
Senator Clinton has been a tireless advocate for equal pay. She introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act originally in 2005 and again in 2007. Last year, Senator Clinton co-chaired a hearing of the Labor Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) entitled "Closing the Gap: Equal Pay for Women Workers" to draw attention to the need to close the continuing pay gap between men and women. On Equal Pay Day 2007, she called on the Government Accountability Office (GAO) with Senators Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) and Tom Harkin (D-IA) to investigate the role the federal government has and can play to remedy pay inequities in the workplace. In 2006, Senator Clinton co-hosted a "Pay Equity for Women" seminar with Stony Brook University that drew hundreds of students as well as leading educators and experts in gender equity business issues. At the seminar, Senator Clinton unveiled a resource guide titled, “Know What to Ask & Know Your Rights: A Pay Equity Guide on How to Help Yourself in the Workplace.” The guide is an informative tool for young women entering the workforce and can be found here: http://www.clinton.senate.gov/
submitted by Rena Silverman
