Political Quotes

“I rise today to discuss the issue of equal pay for equal work. Today is National Equal Pay Day, and this provides us an opportunity to talk about how we can promote policies that will make life easier and more flexible for American families. It allows us to celebrate the amazing advancements that women have made. Women have an incredibly positive story to tell. We now hold more than half of all professional and managerial jobs, double the number since 1980. We earn over 55 percent of bachelor's degrees, run nearly 10 million small businesses, and we serve in Congress at record levels. Some may be surprised to see a Republican speaking out to support equal pay. My friends on the other side of the aisle have made quite an effort to politicize this issue, claiming that Republicans don't care about equal pay. I am here to state unequivocally that is ridiculous. Equal pay for equal work is a shared American value. At its core, equal pay is about basic fairness and ensuring that every woman, just like every man, has the opportunity to build the life she chooses. For over half a century, the Equal Pay Act and the Civil Rights Act have enabled women to make significant economic strides. Any violation of these important laws are illegal, and they should be punished to the full extent of the law. But I believe we can also go further. Congress now has the opportunity to recommit itself to this issue and ensure that these existing laws are better enforced.…”