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Congressman Cohen's Statement on the Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act

August 1, 2008


It is simply unacceptable that 45 years after President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 that gender-based wage discrimination continues to plague women in the workforce. A woman’s paycheck should be based on performance and merit, not as a result of an employer’s prejudice. This important new legislation will close the loopholes that have allowed some employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay over the years, and builds on Congress’ commitment to ensuring that all Americans are paid equally and fairly for the work that they do.

I was proud to cosponsor the Paycheck Fairness Act because the wage gap is one of the most pressing issues facing families, the economy and women workers in particular. Unfair pay affects women whether they are business executives or retail salespeople. It’s a virus in the workplace that strikes women regardless of education, occupation, race or age.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women only make 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. In addition, African American women only earn 66 cents on the dollar while Hispanic women earn 55 cents on the dollar compared to their male counterparts.

The Institute of Women’s Policy Research concluded that this wage disparity will cost a woman anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over her lifetime in lost wages.

The Democratic Congress has taken important steps to stop the practice of discriminatory pay. Last year, the House approved the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, legislation that rectifies a recent Supreme Court decision that has made it harder for workers to pursue pay discrimination claims.

For more information on the Paycheck Fairness Act, please visit https://edlabor.house.gov/issues/paycheckfairness.shtml.

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Contact:
Marilyn Dillihay, Press Secretary, 202-225-3265
Charlie Gerber, Communications Assistant, 202-225-3265