Recently by Kittredge, Betsy Miller

House Passes Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Paycheck Fairness Act

By
Kittredge, Betsy Miller
 on January 9, 2009 1:38 PM
On January 9, the House of Representatives passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by a vote of 247-171, and the Paycheck Fairness Act by a vote of 256-163.

“The Supreme Court’s misguided decision is already having very harmful consequences far beyond Ms. Ledbetter’s case and must not stand.  This issue is about basic fairness for our nation’s workers. Americans shouldn’t be treated differently based on the color of their skin, gender, disability or faith.” -- Chairman George Miller



“In this economy, families are struggling to make ends meet. Not one of them deserves to be shortchanged, but because women still earn 78 cents for every dollar men earn, many unfortunately are. But this does not need to be.  Today, by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, we send a strong message that gender discrimination is unacceptable and women will have the tools they need to combat it. We are standing up for working women and their families. It is our moment to fight for economic freedom and eliminate the systemic discrimination faced by women workers. With this legislation, we begin the change, make history, and change lives.” -- Rep. Rosa DeLauro, sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act

Chairman Miller Discusses Education Priorities With Duncan

By
Kittredge, Betsy Miller
 on January 8, 2009 12:06 PM
Chairman George Miller met with Secretary of Education nominee Arne Duncan yesterday to discuss Obama administration education priorities and the 111th Congress.

GM-Duncan-hallway.JPG
In 2008, Duncan testified before the Education and Labor Committee with mayors and superintendents of major U.S. cities on how to improve America’s schools and close the achievement gap:

 

For Duncan's written testimony, click here.

House to Vote on Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and Paycheck Fairness Act TODAY

By
Kittredge, Betsy Miller
 on January 6, 2009 4:35 PM
The House is scheduled to vote on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act today, January 9.

Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act:

GMLedbetterRA2007.JPGOn May 29, 2007, in its 5-4 Ledbetter v. Goodyear decision, the Supreme Court severely restricted the rights of employees to challenge unlawful pay discrimination. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act restores employee rights to challenge pay discrimination.

The Court’s misguided decision is already having very harmful consequences far beyond Ms. Ledbetter’s case. According to The New York Times, the Ledbetter decision was cited in at least 300 cases in the 19 months after the Supreme Court's ruling. Not only have pay discrimination cases been adversely impacted, but Fair Housing, Title IX, and even the Eighth Amendment also have been affected. More on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act »

Paycheck Fairness Act:

The Paycheck Fairness Act would help end the discriminatory practice of paying men and women unequally for performing the same job. The bill, which was introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, will strengthen the Equal Pay Act and close the loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay.

Although the wage gap between men and women has narrowed since the passage of the landmark Equal Pay Act in 1963, gender-based wage discrimination remains a problem for women in the U.S. workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women only make 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. The Institute of Women’s Policy Research found that this wage disparity will cost women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million over a lifetime in lost wages. More on the Paycheck Fairness Act »

January 2 Marks the Third Anniversary of Sago Mine Tragedy

By
Kittredge, Betsy Miller
 on January 2, 2009 11:41 AM
January 2 marks the third anniversary of the Sago mine tragedy, in which 12 miners died after being trapped by an explosion. Chairman Miller offers his condolences to the miners’ families and promises to work toward improved health and safety for all miners and workers.

House Steering & Policy Committee Held Forum on the Economic Recovery Plan

By
Kittredge, Betsy Miller
 on January 2, 2009 10:06 AM

On Wednesday, January 7 at 10:00 am, the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee held a forum on the economic outlook and the components of an economic recovery plan to spur job creation and create long-term growth. Steering and Policy Committee co-chairs Congressman George Miller (CA-7) and Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3) chaired the forum, which featured a panel of economists and experts in infrastructure investments. The chairs of the House Science and Technology, Energy and Commerce, Transportation and Infrastructure, Budget, Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees also participated.


The forum on the state of the economy and the need for a comprehensive jobs and economic recovery package took place on Wednesday 7 January 2009 at 10:00 AM in Washington, DC in the Ways and Means Committee Hearing Room (1100 Longworth House Office Building).


"The state of our economy demands Congress act quickly to pass at the earliest date an economic recovery plan to provide immediate relief to Americans and to create or save millions of American jobs," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi.  "This hearing will build upon the stimulus package the House passed in September and the numerous hearings held by our other committees, to ensure we make the necessary investments in an innovative and bold way to strengthen the economy."

"We know that smart, strategic investments in our nation's infrastructure are key to getting Americans back to work and getting our economy moving forward," said Congressman Miller, the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee. "This hearing will help the new Congress take swift, effective action to create jobs, rebuild our economy, strengthen our competitiveness through strategic investments in education and lay the foundation for a robust and innovative future."

"Families are struggling, facing times tougher than they have ever been in recent memory.  This moment requires bold solutions that will drive economic growth and job creation directly.  With this hearing we will examine what we need to do to get our economy moving again and how we can work together to reverse the daunting trends, jumpstart our economy and ensure our economy grows and prospers in the years ahead," said Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.

Participating:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair, Democratic Policy Committee and chair, Education and Labor Committee
U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), chair, Democratic Steering Committee
U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN), chair, Science and Technology Committee
U.S. Rep. David Obey (D-WI), chair, Appropriations Committee
U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar (D-MN), chair, Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
U.S. Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), chair, Ways and Means Committee
U. S. Rep. John M. Spratt, Jr. (D-SC), chair, Budget Committee
U.S. Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), chair, Energy and Commerce Committee

Panelists:

Dr. Mark M. Zandi
Chief economist and cofounder of Moody's Economy.com

Robert Reich
Former Secretary of Labor and a professor at the University of California at Berkeley

Martin Feldstein
George F. Baker Professor of Economics at Harvard University and President Emeritus of the National Bureau of Economic Research
 
Norman R. Augustine
Author of the Gathering Storm, which focused the nation's attention on the critical need for investments in basic science and research, in addition to his other accolades

Maria Zuber
E. A. Griswold Professor of Geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology



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