PRINTER'S NO. 1037
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE RESOLUTION
No.
174
Session of
2017
INTRODUCED BY WATSON, O'NEILL, READSHAW, WARD, TOEPEL, BOBACK,
V. BROWN, BULLOCK, DEAN, DELOZIER, DRISCOLL, FITZGERALD,
GOODMAN, HELM, JAMES, McNEILL, MURT, NEILSON, PASHINSKI,
M. QUINN, RAPP, SOLOMON AND TOOHIL, MARCH 21, 2017
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, MARCH 21, 2017
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Directing the Joint State Government Commission to study the
issue of workplace pay disparity, to reexamine existing
Federal and State laws relating to that issue and to make
recommendations to the General Assembly.
WHEREAS, Women work for pay in greater numbers, in more
occupations and for more years of their lives than ever before;
and
WHEREAS, The year 2017 marks the 58th anniversary of the act
of December 17, 1959 (P.L.1913, No.694), known as the Equal Pay
Law, a law which is as relevant today as on the day the law was
signed; and
WHEREAS, The Equal Pay Law, along with the act of October 27,
1955 (P.L.744, No.222), known as the Pennsylvania Human
Relations Act, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (Public Law 88-38, 77
Stat. 56) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Public
Law 88-352, 78 Stat. 241), provides a critical foundation for
women seeking greater opportunities in the workplace and
compensation without wage discrimination; and
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WHEREAS, A 1994 survey conducted by the United States
Department of Labor, Women's Bureau, found that improving pay
and benefits was one of working women's three main priorities
for change, along with balancing work and family; and
WHEREAS, Gaining respect and opportunity on the job and the
issue of equal pay continue to resonate among women; and
WHEREAS, The effects of wage disparity follow women
throughout life, as pension and Social Security benefits are
based on pay earned while working; and
WHEREAS, Pay disparities depress the wages of working
families who rely on the wages of all members of the family to
make ends meet, prevent maximum utilization of available labor
resources and violate the longstanding public policy of the
Commonwealth against wage discrimination; and
WHEREAS, According to the 2015 Census Bureau data, women
Statewide average 78.4¢ for every $1 paid to men; and
WHEREAS, A recent study by the American Association of
University Women found that among people hired within the first
year after college, women in 2009 were paid 82¢ for every $1
paid to men; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Committee on Pay Equity,
women's earnings were 79.6% of men's in 2015, compared to 78.3%
in 2013; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide, men's median earnings in 2015 were
$51,212 and women's were $40,742; and
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania in 2013, the median yearly pay for
women working full time was $38,368, while the median yearly pay
for men was $50,231, leaving a yearly gap of $11,683 between
full-time working men and full-time working women in this
Commonwealth; and
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WHEREAS, There is a need for a comprehensive reexamination of
the role of Federal and State laws in deterring workplace wage
discrimination; therefore be it
RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly
direct the Joint State Government Commission to study workplace
pay disparity in this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the area of review include a study of the
Equal Pay Law, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, the Equal
Pay Act of 1963 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to
determine the laws' effectiveness in deterring wage disparity in
the workplace; a review of existing Federal and State laws to
determine if additional policy initiatives, outreach programs or
legislation are needed to ensure equal pay in this Commonwealth;
a review of current training and funding mechanisms to determine
if government agencies have the tools and resources needed to
identify and pursue equal pay violations; and a study of Federal
policy initiatives addressing wage disparity as the policy
initiatives may apply to this Commonwealth; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Joint State Government Commission report
its findings, recommendations and proposed legislation to the
General Assembly by November 30, 2017.
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