Kathy Castor: “Mr. Speaker, this rules package also contains the first step in the march towards economic recovery in that it allows…”

“Mr. Speaker, this rules package also contains the first step in the march towards economic recovery in that it allows consideration by this Congress for the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Act. We are going to reverse a very anachronistic decision by the United States Supreme Court relating to job discrimination based on sex. You see, in this country, working women are still earning only 78 cents for every dollar that a man makes in the same position oftentimes; and despite the attempts by this Congress during the 110th Congress, we were unable to beat back the opposition of the White House. Well, this is a new day and a new direction for America, because now we will have someone in the White House who will value equal opportunity in employment and education and housing and other fields. Indeed, the President-elect has stated that he intends to invite Ms. Ledbetter to the White House, and he understands that this bill is part of a broader effort to update the social contract, to value equal pay for equal work. This is the important first step this Congress will take as part of the economic recovery and reinvestment.”