Today, on Equal Pay Day, U.S. Senator Tim Kaine co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation to address gender-based wage discrimination.
The bill updates the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by requiring employers to explain pay disparities between male and female employees, implementing stricter penalties for employers that pay men and women unequal wages for equal work and protecting workers who inquire about or take action against pay inequities.
“The Paycheck Fairness Act is an important step toward ensuring equal pay for equal work, and I am proud to co-sponsor it,” said Kaine. “Women in Virginia are paid only 77 cents for every dollar paid to men. Over time, this pay gap deprives women of hundreds of thousands of dollars in earned income. The harm wage discrimination has on households clearly shows that paycheck fairness isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s a family issue and an economic issue.”
Kaine previously co-sponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act of 2013.