Cicilline Slams Republicans for Blocking Paycheck Fairness Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI), a co-sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act in the House, criticized Senate Republicans today for standing in the way of progress for America’s women and their families. 

“In Rhode Island, women are only making an average of 80 cents for every dollar made by men,” said Cicilline.  “This is absolutely wrong.  Women help pay the bills in more than 50% of American households, and they are entitled to make equal pay for equal work.”

Today, Senate Republicans blocked consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act by a vote of 52-47.  Cicilline has stressed the importance of achieving equal pay for women during his first term in Congress.  Earlier this year, Cicilline marked Equal Pay Day by calling on House Republicans to help close the wage gap that exists between men and women. 

Although the Democratic-led Congress passed, and President Obama signed into law, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in January 2009, more work remains to be done in order to completely close the gender wage gap.

“The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act brought our nation towards greater equality, but Congress still has work to do,” Cicilline added.  “By passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, we can build on the successes of the 49-year-old Equal Pay Act and ensure that women who are denied salary equity have the means to fight back.  I will continue to fight along with the other members of the Rhode Island delegation as we work to rectify this injustice.”