NNEDV Celebrates House Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act

April 15, 2021

Today, the House of Representatives passed the Paycheck Fairness Act—a bill that would strengthen and amend the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to give workers stronger enforcement tools and remedies to help close, for once and for all, the pay gap between men and women.

Pay inequality can have devastating consequences for all women; for domestic violence survivors in particular, the disparity can be particularly acute. Survivors’ safety can be directly linked to their economic stability, and abusive partners often use financial abuse as a tactic for maintaining power and control over a victim.

“The Paycheck Fairness Act is a critical piece of legislation that can help our country close the ongoing and persistent pay gaps that continue to prevent millions of women, including survivors of domestic violence, from achieving economic security,” said Deborah J. Vagins, President and CEO of the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV). “Survivors of color, survivors with disabilities, LGBTQ+ survivors, immigrant survivors, and other survivors experiencing systemic discrimination and marginalization often face wider pay gaps, further jeopardizing their ability safely leave abusive partners and survive on their own. Increasing independence and stability for survivors is at the forefront of NNEDV’s work, and we are thrilled to see the Paycheck Fairness Act’s passage in the House of Representatives. Women can no longer wait for equal pay, especially as they face the current economic downturn deeply impacting them and their families. We urge the Senate to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act without delay.”

NNEDV is proud to be among a broad coalitions of organizations supporting swift passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act. Read more here.