Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand issued the following statement today after Senate Republicans voted to obstruct debate on the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to close loopholes employers can use to shortchange workers, hold big corporations accountable for pay inequity, make it easier for workers to pursue back pay, and empower working women to be appropriately and accurately compensated for their work and value:
“Shortchanging women on the job doesn’t just rob them of a fair paycheck. It makes families less secure, and slows economic growth across the board.
“With more dual-income households than ever, and with more families relying on working mothers to make ends meet, the key to economic growth and security for the middle class is equal pay for women.
“But instead of having an honest debate to move this bill forward, it’s politics as usual for Senate Republicans, derailing yet another bill with the potential to empower women to earn their value, and put middle class families on stable ground.”