Rep. Johnson supports Paycheck Fairness Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-4) today participated in a Democratic Steering and Policy Committee hearing on the “Paycheck Fairness Act: Closing the Gender Wage Gap and Strengthening Economic Security for America’s Women.”

As an original cosponsor of the bill, Rep. Johnson continues a record of advocacy on behalf of working women, including his support of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and his work on the issue of discrimination against the unemployed.

According to 2009 Census data, women earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man. That number drops to 68% for African-American women and 58% for Latinas.

“The Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step toward eliminating discriminatory workplace practices," said Johnson. “Women are the foundation of our families – they are workers, caregivers, and breadwinners – the fact that we cheat women on pay is at the heart of our problems as a society. This has to stop. Paying women commensurate with men will help strengthen families, provide a healthy environment for our children and make our nation stronger.”

The Paycheck Fairness Act would:

 help women achieve fair pay by requiring that men and women be given equal pay for equal work in the same business or establishment,
 train women in salary negotiation, and supporting government collection of critical wage data and
 reward employers that have good pay practices.

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