Senate Rejects Attempts to Advance Equal Pay Bills

Employment Law, Inclusion and Diversity

This week, Senators in both parties blocked attempts to advance competing equal pay bills. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) asked the Senate to take up and unanimously pass her Workplace Advancement Act (S. 875) that would strengthen equal pay requirements by protecting workers who discuss their pay from retaliation, but the request was blocked by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA).  Sen. Murray said the bill fell "far short" of what was needed to close the wage gap and called on the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 862) by unanimous consent instead.  However, Sen. Fischer objected.  In dueling statements, Sen Fischer said: "I hope my equal pay bill can bring Republicans and Democrats together so that more women can lead the lives they choose, support their families, and reach their goals."  Sen. Murray said: "I'm glad that at least some Republicans finally recognize that there is a wage gap problem, and I really welcome their support for fixing this systemic problem," but she added her belief that the Fischer bill fails to provide enough protection to actually make a difference in closing the pay gap.