John Kerry: “at a time when families across America are struggling to make ends meet, equal pay for equal work isn't just a women's…”

“at a time when families across America are struggling to make ends meet, equal pay for equal work isn't just a women's issue, it is a family issue. As the father of two daughters, I also see it as a fairness issue. I am an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act because all of our daughters deserve the right to be compensated and valued fairly. This bill would take strong action to address the gender pay gap by helping women successfully fight for the equal pay they earn. This bill would address the pay gap by enhancing enforcement of equal pay laws. Specifically, it would prohibit retaliation against workers who ask about or discuss wage information, and would provide more effective remedies for women subjected to discriminatory pay practices. It also requires the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to collect pay data to enable better enforcement of laws prohibiting pay discrimination. Across the Nation, women continue to earn substantially less than men for performing the same work. Women earn only 77 cents for every $1 men earn, with women of color at an even greater disadvantage with 64 cents on the dollar for African-American women and 56 cents for Hispanic women. As more and more American families rely on women's wages for a significant portion of their income, the pay gap hurts not only women, but the families that depend on them.…”