Deb Fischer: “I strongly affirm the principle of equal pay for equal work. Both the Equal Pay Act and title VII of the Civil Rights…”

“I strongly affirm the principle of equal pay for equal work. Both the Equal Pay Act and title VII of the Civil Rights Act, which were passed on a bipartisan basis, have helped increase career opportunities for women and ensure they receive equal pay for equal work. That is a principle we strongly support. Women have made progress. They now hold more than half of all managerial and professional jobs--more than double the number of women in 1980--and women comprise a majority in the five fastest growing job fields. According to the Department of Education, women receive 57 percent of all college degrees, 33 percent more than in 1970. We believe--the reports prepared for the U.S. Department of Labor recognize--that commonly used wage gap statistics don't tell the full story. Factors including differences in occupation, education, fields of study, type of work, hours worked, and other personal choices shape career paths and they shape earning potential. Moreover, salaries alone don't account for total compensation. Still, some women continue to struggle with gender-based pay discrimination, directly impacting a woman's livelihood, financial future, and her job security. With 60 percent of women working as the primary breadwinners, lost wages detrimentally impact families as well as single women. We fully agree that gender-based pay discrimination in the modern workplace is unacceptable.…”