My history and fight for improving the lives of women was well known even before my election to Congress. I became chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 1977, at a time when sexual harassment was not a violation of workplace anti-discrimination laws. As Chair, I worked to hold hearings and issued the first guidelines finding sexual harassment a violation of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, later upheld by the Supreme Court. I am continuing this fight in Congress through my bill to create a national commission to find ways to combat sexual harassment nationwide in workplaces. Establishing a national commission on sexual harassment and similar inappropriate behavior would signal to the country that Congress understands we are confronted with a problem of major proportions for women and men who work every day, as well as their employers.

During my tenure in Congress, I have introduced two bills to help close the wage gap. The Fair Pay Act (H.R. 2243) would require that if men and women are doing comparable work, they must be paid comparable wages. The Pay Equity for All Act of 2021 (H.R. 2242) would prohibit employers from asking job applicants for their salary history before making a job or salary offer. The Pay Equity for All Act is included in the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 7), which the House passed last year. Particularly considering the 15.3 million children living in single mother households, I will continue my fight for equal pay for equal work.