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senate Bill S. 224

Do the Feds Need More Ways to Punish Businesses That Don’t Pay Women Equally?

Argument in favor

It's the 21st century — there's no reason that women shouldn't make the same amount of money as men for doing the same work. The federal government needs to ensure that pay discrimination becomes a thing of the past.

BernieSanders's Opinion
···
11/10/2015
"It is wrong that women working full-time only earn 78 cents for every dollar a man earns. We have got to move forward and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act into law." [berniesanders.com]
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DonaldTrump's Opinion
···
11/10/2015
“If they do the same job, they should get the same pay.” [thehill.com]
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BarackObama's Opinion
···
11/10/2015
"Equal pay is a family issue. Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force and are a growing number of breadwinners in their families. More women are also working in positions and fields that have been traditionally occupied by men. When women are not paid fairly, not only do they suffer, but so do their families." [whitehouse.gov/issues/equal-pay]
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Argument opposed

There are plenty of reasons that one worker should make more money than another — including education, experience, and training. Wage disparities are often the result of differences in people’s abilities, not gender discrimination.

AutumnStarlight's Opinion
···
08/27/2015
There is nothing that this legislation can do that the Equal Pay Act of 1963 hasn't already accomplished. Thanks to said law, pay discrimination based on sex has already been a federal crime for more than half a century, making the gender pay gap a myth. The 78¢ statistic comes from the Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2007 ACS released by the Census Bureau. It says that in aggregate, the national median income of women was 78% of that of men. It is actually a gender earnings gap, and it's also a national average, not a universally applicable paradigm. It exists because generally, women don't take the same jobs, work the same hours, or negotiate their salaries as aggressively as men do. If women really were universally paid 23% less than men, then there would be no men in the work force at all. A man would have to be overqualified just to get hired.
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Robert's Opinion
···
08/25/2015
This sort of feel-good legislation is idiotic. Jobs should be based on merit alone, not what's between your legs. I'm all for giving women more opportunities to succeed, but in the end the job has to go to the most qualified person.
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Loraki's Opinion
···
09/16/2016
Not the federal government's business. Let the states decide this issue.
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Bill Details

Official information provided by the Congressional Research Service. Learn more or make a suggestion.
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Title

Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2015

Official Title

A bill to ensure the United States promotes women's meaningful inclusion and participation in mediation and negotiation processes undertaken in order to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict and implements the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security.

Summary

Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2015 Expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) implementation of the United States National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (NAP) is paramount in improving the lives of women around the world and increasing global stability and prosperity, (2) Congress is committed to advancing NAP principles, and (3) the President should ensure NAP's implementation and coordinate with the international community to reaffirm global commitments to implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325. States that it is U.S. policy to implement NAP. Directs the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development to: (1) integrate gender goals into diplomatic and development efforts, and into agency guidance and contracting; (2) include gender in strategic and budget planning processes; and (3) review existing U.S. policies and programs on women and girls in foreign countries from a gender perspective. Directs the heads of federal departments and agencies to ensure that NAP's tenets are incorporated into all programs related to: (1) conflict prevention, (2) humanitarian and disaster response, (3) conflict mediation, (4) peacekeeping, (5) post-conflict reconstruction, (6) institution building, and (7) democracy promotion. Urges the Secretary to promote the inclusion of women in coordination and consultation with international partners. Directs the Secretary, the Administrator, the Secretary of Defense and representatives of other federal agencies to implement NAP and ensure relevant personnel training. Directs the Secretary to facilitate the efforts of partner governments to improve women's participation in peace and security processes, conflict prevention, peace-building, transitional processes, and decision making institutions in conflict-affected environments. Directs the Secretary and the Administrator to establish guidelines for overseas U.S. personnel to consult with specified stakeholders regarding U.S. efforts to: (1) prevent, mitigate, or resolve violent conflict; and (2) enhance the success of mediation and negotiation processes by ensuring women's meaningful participation.

bill Progress

  • Not enacted
    The President has not signed this bill
  • The house has not voted
  • The senate has not voted
      senate Committees
      Committee on Foreign Relations
    IntroducedJanuary 21st, 2015
    BernieSanders's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/10/2015
    "It is wrong that women working full-time only earn 78 cents for every dollar a man earns. We have got to move forward and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act into law." [berniesanders.com]
    Like (65)
    Follow
    Share
    AutumnStarlight's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/27/2015
    There is nothing that this legislation can do that the Equal Pay Act of 1963 hasn't already accomplished. Thanks to said law, pay discrimination based on sex has already been a federal crime for more than half a century, making the gender pay gap a myth. The 78¢ statistic comes from the Income, Earnings, and Poverty Data from the 2007 ACS released by the Census Bureau. It says that in aggregate, the national median income of women was 78% of that of men. It is actually a gender earnings gap, and it's also a national average, not a universally applicable paradigm. It exists because generally, women don't take the same jobs, work the same hours, or negotiate their salaries as aggressively as men do. If women really were universally paid 23% less than men, then there would be no men in the work force at all. A man would have to be overqualified just to get hired.
    Like (6)
    Follow
    Share
    DonaldTrump's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/10/2015
    “If they do the same job, they should get the same pay.” [thehill.com]
    Like (52)
    Follow
    Share
    BarackObama's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/10/2015
    "Equal pay is a family issue. Women make up nearly half of the U.S. labor force and are a growing number of breadwinners in their families. More women are also working in positions and fields that have been traditionally occupied by men. When women are not paid fairly, not only do they suffer, but so do their families." [whitehouse.gov/issues/equal-pay]
    Like (28)
    Follow
    Share
    ElizabethWarren's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/10/2015
    "Every single Republican in the US Senate voted against equal pay for equal work for women today. Unreal. #equalpay" [twitter.com/senwarren]
    Like (16)
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    JoeBiden's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/10/2015
    "Equal pay for equal work. It's common sense. It's also overdue. Let's close the gap & let's do it now." [twitter.com/VP]
    Like (11)
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    Robert's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/25/2015
    This sort of feel-good legislation is idiotic. Jobs should be based on merit alone, not what's between your legs. I'm all for giving women more opportunities to succeed, but in the end the job has to go to the most qualified person.
    Like (5)
    Follow
    Share
    victovm's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/11/2015
    The US Constitution states that all people are born equal, yet our difference in salaries depending on gender is shocking stacked towards males. In order of reinstating our basic human rights, everyone should be paid equally, regardless of race, gender, religion, etc.
    Like (5)
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    Loraki's Opinion Against
    ···
    09/16/2016
    Not the federal government's business. Let the states decide this issue.
    Like (4)
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    Mark's Opinion Against
    ···
    02/10/2016
    How a business chooses to pay its employees is not the concern of the government. If a woman doesn't like her pay she can find another job and then quit her current one.
    Like (3)
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    GrumpyMSgt's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/24/2015
    Folks, we need to stop looking through this prism of political correctness and select the most qualified person for the job. Everything has to be balanced with gender, race, religion and so many other ridiculous boxes that have to be checked. Let's get back to basics an choose the most qualified person.
    Like (3)
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    Donald's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/25/2015
    It should be on the qualilty of the person rather than the gender.
    Like (3)
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    Mel's Opinion Against
    ···
    09/16/2016
    Government has no business in interfering in business practices unless it affects interstate commerce. This is the only thing that the Constitution gives government authority to do. Even then government overstepping its authority is rampant. I have a better idea. Make every politician and bureaucrats study the Constitution and then take a test on it before they can be "hired". Have SEVERE PENALTIES for those who violate the Constitution.
    Like (2)
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    mack0327's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/28/2015
    While I believe that some wage differences are because of ability, I think many are truly because of gender.. I believe that if you can prove that a company is paying differently because of gender, there should be more punishment.
    Like (2)
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    Kathy's Opinion Against
    ···
    08/26/2015
    As a woman I am in favor of the most qualified not just putting in a woman to make everyone feel good!
    Like (2)
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    Crystal's Opinion Against
    ···
    10/01/2015
    Really? More law suits, more hostile work environment, more government control. I don't think business owners should ever be told who to value and how to do so by our corrupt government. As a female, it's been my experience that you will be valued according to your contributions because not doing so is not beneficial to your company. If you aren't making as much as your male counterparts, check yourself. There's probably a reason which has nothing to do with your sex.
    Like (2)
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    James's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/28/2015
    Institutionalized discrimination can only be corrected systemically.
    Like (2)
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    Katie's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/19/2016
    Yes. Whatever they're doing now is obviously not working given the low numbers of women in leadership positions and the consistent low rate of pay for women. In 1984, women were earning around $0.58 cents to every $1.00 earned by a man. In 30 years, it's only gone up about $0.20 cents.
    Like (2)
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    MartinOMalley's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    11/10/2015
    "Equal pay for equal work is not only good for women, but also good for our economy. ‪#‎EqualPayDay‬" [facebook.com]
    Like (2)
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    Wes's Opinion In Favor
    ···
    08/23/2015
    It's been my experience that often, women are more patient and level headed than men
    Like (1)
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