the Paycheck Fairness Act is a modest, common-sense reform that closes numerous longstanding loopholes in the Equal Pay Act.

Thank you to This Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2010 Funding and to Senator Mikulski for Statements at the Recent Help Hearing Regarding Backlog and Need for Confirmation of EEOC Nominees.

See, I am observing a pattern here, which is not only with the EEOC, but a variety of agencies.

I think you have been given an enormous responsibility. And even if this law doesn't pass--which I hope it does--if we give you more responsibility, we have to give you more resources.

Most recently at the March 11, 2010 HELP Hearing on Pay Equity, Senator Mikulski raised the critical issue of EEOC backlog and pressed for confirmation of permanent leadership.

I am here this morning wearing two hats--one, the authorizing committee and one of the original co-sponsors of the paycheck fairness.

Congress originally passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963. It was to end, and I quote, 'serious and endemic problem of unequal wages.'

So, yes, we should enforce the laws on the books, but we need to have--don't you need, No. 1--I mean, you are doing a great job as an acting director. But don't we need a director?

One hundred thousand cases. Now, one of the arguments against our bill that was being discussed here is, enforce the law on the books.

I would like to thank Senator Mikulski for her leadership and her help in getting us the resources we need to rebuild the agency.

My problem has been that the EEOC has been leadership starved, revenue deficient, and expectations that they have been unable to fulfill.

I think having a permanent chair will help move the agency toward fulfilling the expectations that people have.

Mr. Speaker, as an original cosponsor of H.R. 4783, I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation and urge its immediate enactment to support the ongoing recovery efforts in Chile and Haiti. This bill does two simple things. First, it…

I want to thank Senator Merkley for his leadership in introducing this important legislation

I especially want to thank Senators Stabenow and Sanders of this Committee for being original co-sponsors

I thank my friend for yielding, and I thank the ranking Republican for his comments. I thank Mr. Cohen for his leadership on this issue. ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by…

Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this resolution, which would urge the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan, in my opinion, at great cost to America's security and, indeed, the Afghan people. But I want to rise as well to…

Our military risk their lives and our Nation spends resources in a country that has so little hope of future success, that international terrorism actually flourishes in so many countries. Estimates are that this kind of terrorism actually…