House Set to Vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act!

The House is expected to vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338) in the next few days. Because this is such a critical opportunity for Congress to make real progress on pay equity, AAUW reminds you to take action now! Even if you have contacted your representative about this legislation before, we now ask you again to urge your representative to vote yes on this legislation and oppose any attempts to weaken it.
The Paycheck Fairness Act would update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, closing loop holes and improving the law's effectiveness. The Paycheck Fairness Act would, among other things, deter wage discrimination by strengthening penalties for equal pay violations, and by prohibiting retaliation against workers who inquire about employers' wage practices or disclose their own wages. The bill also requires employers to show that wage gaps are truly a result of factors other than sex, collect better data on wages, reinstate activities that promote equal pay at the Department of Labor, and develop training for women and girls on salary negotiations. The bill's measured approach does not impose arbitrary caps on damages, ensuring that women can obtain the same remedies as those discriminated against based on race or national origin.
AAUW released a 2007 report, Behind the Pay Gap, which shows that just one year out of college, women working full time already earn less than their male colleagues, even when they have the same major and occupation. Ten years after graduation, the pay gap widens. With a record 70 million women in the workforce, wage discrimination hurts the majority of American families. In addition, wage discrimination lowers total lifetime earnings, reducing women's benefits from Social Security and pension plans and inhibiting their ability to save not only for retirement but for other lifetime goals such as buying a home and paying for a college education.
Equal pay for equal work is a simple matter of justice for women, and a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act is a critical step forward in our goal to close the persistent and sizable wage gaps between men and women.
Take Action!To urge your representative to support the Paycheck Fairness Act when it comes up for a vote next week, just click on the "Take Action" link in the upper right corner or copy and paste the following URL into your Internet browser. Then follow the instructions to send a message to your U.S. Representative. http://capwiz.com/aauw/issues/alert/?alertid=11683451
If your representative has already signed on as a cosponsor, you will be able to send him or her a separate message urging a vote against any amendments that may weaken the bill.
AAUW continues to have "I am the face of pay equity" signs and stickers available for use at AAUW events. Visit AAUW's Pay Equity webpage and download the Pay Equity Resource Kit for ideas, tips, and resources to use in your community throughout the year.