Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act NOW
Dear Senator,
I am a registered voter in your district, a member of 9to5, National Association of Working Women,and I am writing to urge you to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182) and help end wage discrimination for women.
More than 45 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women earn, on average, only 77 cents for every dollar earned by a man and for women of color the wage gap is even greater.
The Paycheck Fairness Act, which was passed by the House in January 2009, would deter wage discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and barring retaliation against workers who disclose their wages. The bill also allows women and men to receive the same remedies for sex-based pay discrimination that are currently available to those who are discriminated against based on race and national origin.
The bill also would improve the collection of pay information by the Department of Labor and the EEOC to more easily evaluate pay disparities; facilitate class actions in Equal Pay Act claims; and spark the development of salary negotiation skills training.
In this tough economy, more and more families are counting on women's earnings. Unfair pay practices make things even harder, especially for those families who rely solely on female earnings. Congress should act quickly to address wage discrimination and eliminate loopholes that have undermined the Equal Pay Act's effectiveness.
Again, I urge you to vote to approve the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182) when it comes to the floor and to oppose any weakening amendments.
Sincerely,
Your name and address here
