Pay Equity
In the 21st century, it seems unbelievable that while women are the primary or co-breadwinners in six out of ten households; they still earn only 77 cents to every dollar paid to men. This picture is even worse for African American and Hispanic women, who earn 68 cents and 59 cents respectively for every dollar men are paid. Women face pay discrimination throughout their lives, and it follows them into retirement with lower pensions and Social Security benefits because they earned lower wages than they deserved.
As our economy shows signs of revival, women and their families must not be left behind. We must send a strong message that pay discrimination should not stand.
I support the Paycheck Fairness Act to fight pay discrimination and improve wages for women. We must bring the equal pay law into line with all other civil rights law by increasing the available remedies to include punitive and compensatory damages.
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I had the great pleasure of joining my Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives at the 2024 Issues Conference in Leesburg, Virginia. This was a time for Democrats to come together to discuss the issues that matter most to Americans. We heard from incredible speakers, including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. We discussed many issues, including the importance of lowering costs for Americans, protecting workers’ rights and unions, restoring reproductive freedom, and regulating Big Tech.
To finish out the legislative year in Washington, the House of Representatives voted on the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill authorizes a staggering $886 billion in new spending for the Department of Defense. Our greatest security threats have no military solutions, and it is time our budget reflected that. Therefore, I could not, in good faith, support its final passage.
Last week, Republicans on the House Budget Committee hosted a hearing centered around the idea of creating a so-called “fiscal commission.” The hearing made it crystal clear what their real goal is: decimate Social Security and Medicare behind closed doors. Over a decade ago, I served on the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, better known as the Bowles-Simpson Commission. That commission failed, but not before its co-chairs tried to make deep cuts to the American people’s hard-earned Social Security and Medicare benefits.
I hope you all had a joyful Thanksgiving holiday! I know I enjoyed spending quality time with my family. It was great to be back in the 9th Congressional District for an extended period of time after 10 straight weeks of voting in Washington, D.C. I love being out and about in our community, whether I am visiting a school, touring a new small business, or speaking with fellow shoppers at my local Jewel, it is always great to be home.
On Friday, the Supreme Court granted the Department of Justice’s emergency stay application in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA, preventing a lower court decision from going into effect that would have put women’s health at risk and undermined FDA’s medical judgment. For now, Mifepristone, which is used in 54% of all abortions, remains safe, legal, and available. But let me make it clear – the battle is not over. I will continue to fight and advocate for bodily autonomy and reproductive freedom.
On Friday, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis issued an order that halts the Biden administration from disbursing any student loan relief funds until the court rules on an emergency request by six Republican-led states to block the policy. This order does not prevent borrowers from still applying for student debt relief at studentaid.gov. I encourage you to apply if you have not done so already. Nearly 22 million Americans have already applied for the program.