Paycheck Fairness Act Makes Huge Strides after 10 Years of Republican Opposition

Now in the 110th Congress with Democrats in charge of committees, the bill (H.R. 1388) already has reached two milestones - its first hearing and majority support with 219 co-sponsors. In a "Dear Colleague" letter seeking additional sign-ons and help in moving the bill to a floor vote, DeLauro writes:

Today, economic reality and economic insecurity mandate two-earner families, where possible. Yet, even as more women than ever have joined the workforce, they continue to earn lower wages compared to men. In 2006, women still earned only about 77 percent of what men did. In many families, the inequity of the pay gap falls hardest upon children, because so many working women are the primary breadwinners in their households.