Paycheck Fairness Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. WILLIAMS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act and my amendment to this bill.

On average, full-time working women need to work well into the next year to catch up to the salary our male counterparts earned the previous year. March 24 marked the day that women's salaries, on average, caught up to the salaries of our male counterparts in 2020. For several subgroups of women, this date won't come until later this year. For example, as a Black woman, it will take until August--an additional 8 months--to make the same salary of our male counterparts as they did in 2020.

The American people look to Congress to be a force for economic justice and create policies that are fair and just. It is simply wrong that in the 21st century women still face pay inequity. That is why I am proud to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which will strengthen existing laws to ensure that women are getting the pay that they deserve.

My amendment will build on this crucial legislation by reestablishing the Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force. This task force, which previously existed during the Obama-Biden administration, will ensure Federal agencies are working together to limit any potential gaps in enforcement of equal pay laws. Putting this task force back in place will bring us one step closer to ensuring that women finally receive equal pay for equal work.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and the bill before us today to ensure that women are paid fairly.

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