Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2016 -- Continued
Floor Speech
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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, as a strong supporter of equal pay for
equal work, I am pleased to offer this amendment to combat pay
discrimination in the workplace. Our solution provides a reasonable,
fact-based approach to equip Americans with the knowledge and the tools
they need to fight discrimination. This amendment contains language
similar to President Obama's April 2014 Executive order, clearly
stating that employees cannot be punished for exercising their First
Amendment rights by speaking with employers or coworkers about their
wages.
Furthermore, this amendment does not authorize any new Federal
regulations, nor does it compel employers to disclose salary
information. It simply prevents punitive actions against employees
seeking information.
Women want good-paying jobs. That means we need policies to promote
economic growth and opportunities for all Americans. This is a simple
amendment. This is an amendment that would create a deficit-neutral
reserve fund to promote equal pay by reinforcing a commitment to
existing law. Every Senator in here supports equal pay for equal work.
That is existing law.
This amendment is a chance to not just reaffirm support for the
principles of equal pay for equal work, but also for free speech. This
free speech includes the right to discuss wage information with
coworkers. This amendment would prevent retaliation from employers
against employees who discuss wages with other employees or seek such
information from their employers. Importantly, this amendment does not
authorize any new Federal regulations, nor does it compel employers to
disclose that salary information. It simply prevents punitive action
against employees who seek or share wage information.
I believe this amendment is something all of us in this Chamber can
support.
I yield the floor.
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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, this amendment I think satisfies the
desire for all of us to reassert and reaffirm our support for equal pay
for equal work.
Senator Mikulski spoke earlier about an amendment that I questioned
because it ends merit pay, which I think hurts workplace flexibility
and truly limits career opportunities for women.
My amendment again reaffirms that support, equal pay for equal work.
But it also affirms the course of free speech, because free speech
includes the right to discuss wage information with fellow coworkers,
and that reflects the President's action that he took in 2014 to
prevent retaliation from employers against employees who discuss wages
with other employees or seek such information from their employers.
This is an amendment I believe all of us can support. It again
reaffirms equal pay for equal work and the nonretaliation clause.
I thank the Chair.
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