Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I rise today in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Progress for women in this country has not come easily or come quickly. There was a time when women were not allowed to vote or own property. In fact, our country once considered women to be the property of their fathers or husbands. Over the years, women have fought gender barriers and broken down stereotypes, making great strides toward equity. Unfortunately, inequities still exist. While women have successfully broken through glass ceilings on careers across the employment spectrum, pay discrimination still remains. Today, women make up half of the total workforce and nearly 4 in 10 mothers are the primary breadwinners of their household. Nearly two- thirds of mothers bring home at least a quarter of the household earnings. In these hard economic times, when women's wages put food on the table, keep the lights on and put gas in the car, pay inequities should not be tolerated. In 1963, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in an effort to end pay discrimination. Despite the good faith effort of this legislation, legal loopholes exist that have weakened the intent and goal of the law. The Paycheck Fairness Act updates and strengthens the core principles in the Equal Pay Act. It will close loopholes in the original legislation; level the playing field for employers, so the employers paying fair wages are not disadvantaged; and will shine a light on pay discrimination occurring throughout our country.…”