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WOMEN WORK! COMMENDS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ON PASSAGE OF PAY EQUITY LEGISLATION

WASHINGTON, DC –– The United States House of Representatives has passed two pay equity bills critical to ensuring women's economic security - the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act. Women Work! The National Network for Women's Employment commends the House on the passage of these bills.

Pay discrimination continues to hurt American women and their families by widening the gender wage gap, which contributes to the disproportionately high level of women and children in poverty. While existing laws are inadequate safeguards against pay discrimination, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act are steps toward achieving pay equity.

As Women Work! celebrates the House's passage of these two bills, we are especially grateful to Representative Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut for her tireless work in support of pay equity, Chairman George Miller of the Education and Labor Committee for his ongoing support of working women, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi for making fair pay a priority in the 111th Congress. Without their work, and the efforts of the bills' supporters, we would not be celebrating the passage of these two important pieces of legislation by the House.

Women Work! looks forward to seeing these two bills passed in the Senate and signed by President-Elect Obama, giving women a necessary tool with which to gain economic equity and security.

Women Work! The National Network for Women’s Employment is a nonprofit, nonpartisan
organization that advances economic justice and equality for women. Since 1978, the Network has assisted more than 10 million women to successfully enter, re-enter and advance in the workforce. Through supporting, advocating and increasing women’s economic self-sufficiency, Women Work! members strengthen families and communities. For more information about Women Work! visit: www.womenwork.org.

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