Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet issued the following statement after a minority of senators blocked further consideration of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Bennet is a cosponsor of the bill that would strengthen tools for women to negotiate fair wages and establish protections for women who file complaints of gender-based pay discrimination.
“Every Coloradan, regardless of gender or any other characteristic, deserves a level of pay that fully reflects their hard work. It’s unfortunate a minority of senators would block a bill to provide commonsense protections to align these ideals to reality. Not only is it the right thing to do, but it would benefit our economy and help Colorado families that depend on two incomes. As a husband and father of three girls, it’s important to me that all women are treated equal to their male counterparts.”
Specifically, the Paycheck Fairness Act would protect employees from retaliation for making inquiries or disclosures concerning employee wages. The bill would also seek to enhance data collection, research, and training with regard to pay discrimination.