Floor SpeechNeutral2025-03-10

INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT

TradeCivil Rights

Context

On 2025-03-10, Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) delivered a floor speech titled "INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT" in the House. The speech addressed trade policy and also covered civil rights.

Full Text

INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 44 (Monday, March 10, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 44 (Monday, March 10, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E198] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT ______ HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON of the district of columbia in the house of representatives Monday, March 10, 2025 Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Salary Transparency Act, which would require employers to provide the salary range for jobs in advertisements and interviews and to existing employees. Several states have enacted laws relating to salary range disclosure, and the Federal Government should follow their lead and make salary range disclosure a national requirement. Salary transparency is an important tool to combat the gender and race pay gap. Salary secrecy facilitates both intentional and unintentional pay discrimination and perpetuates the pay gap. Studies have consistently shown that when women negotiate for their salaries, they negotiate for less than similarly situated men. Frequently, this is because the salary they request is a certain percentage higher than their current salary. Because women on average make less than men, this practice perpetuates the pay gap. The same is true for people of color, who earn less on average than their white counterparts. Requiring employers to disclose the salary range for a job will help address this harmful aspect of salary negotiations and lead to a reduction in the gender and race pay gap. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. ____________________

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INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT Congressional Record, Volume 171 Issue 44 (Monday, March 10, 2025) [Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 44 (Monday, March 10, 2025)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E198] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] INTRODUCTION OF THE SALARY TRANSPARENCY ACT ______ HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON of the district of columbia in the house of representatives Monday, March 10, 2025 Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Salary Transparency Act, which would require employers to provide the salary range for jobs in advertisements and interviews and to existing employees. Several states have enacted laws relating to salary range disclosure, and the Federal Government should follow their lead and make salary range disclosure a national requirement. Salary transparency is an important tool to combat the gender and race pay gap. Salary secrecy facilitates both intentional and unintentional pay discrimination and perpetuates the pay gap. Studies have consistently shown that when women negotiate for their salaries, they negotiate for less than similarly situated men. Frequently, this is because the salary they request is a certain percentage higher than their current salary. Because women on average make less than men, this practice perpetuates the pay gap. The same is true for people of color, who earn less on average than their white counterparts. Requiring employers to disclose the salary range for a job will help address this harmful aspect of salary negotiations and lead to a reduction in the gender and race pay gap. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. ____________________