Washington, DC-Rep. Donald Norcross (NJ-01) continues his fight for pay equity, with an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2017 federal budget that would enact the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Norcross, a member of the U.S. House Budget Committee, demanded passage of the Act and offered an amendment that would help the U.S. Department of Labor identify instances of pay discrimination. Norcross’ amendment would also help women who are victims of pay discrimination get a fair hearing in court.

“This is the right thing to do. Women shouldn’t take home less money for doing the same work as a man. We need greater transparency so we can finally end this historic pattern of outrageous discrimination,” said Rep. Norcross.

In his introduction of the amendment before the House Budget Committee, Rep. Norcross pointed to Department of Labor and Census Bureau data which show women earn $.79 cents for every $1 a man earns.

“There’s an injustice happening every day in this country. It’s happening at offices, factories, and workplaces all across America. Many women don’t even know it is happening. If they do know, they are afraid to talk about it for fear they would lose their job. It's a quiet injustice,” said Rep. Norcross. “Women are equal to men in every aspect of American life. It’s time we paid them accordingly.”
The American Association of University Women (AAUW), which recently gave Rep. Norcross a score of 100% in their Congressional Action Fund report for his advocacy on behalf of women and families and for his voting record in the 114th Congress, recognized the Congressman’s efforts to achieve pay equity.

“The pay gap is not a myth, it’s math. That’s why it’s past time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act,” said Lisa Maatz, vice president of government relations at the American Association of University Women. “AAUW and its members in New Jersey applaud Congressman Norcross for his leadership on this issue, and we join him in urging Congress to pass this much needed update to the Equal Pay Act of 1963.”

Rep. Norcross was recently joined by supporters of pay equity who asserted pay discrimination is bad for American families, the economy, and disastrous for the retirement plans of hardworking women.  Rep. Norcross pledged continued support to advocates for women’s equality, as well as Rep. Rosa DeLauro, and fellow sponsors to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.

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