March 27, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 53 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H2839]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           PAYCHECK FAIRNESS

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to express my serious 
concern with the inappropriately and euphemistically named ``Paycheck 
Fairness Act.'' In reality, this legislation should be called the 
``Leave No Lawyer Behind Act.''
  I am sure everyone in this room believes that equal work deserves 
equal pay. In fact, Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 to ensure 
that. But that is not what Democrats have put this legislation on the 
floor for. Instead, they wanted something to benefit trial lawyers and 
to make it nearly impossible for job creators to defend against 
frivolous, unlimited lawsuits.
  In fact, this legislation is actually harmful to women in the 
workforce by creating a mandatory opt-out system for class action 
lawsuits that will ultimately limit legal options when there actually 
is workplace discrimination.
  This legislation is all about litigation, and that is not right. 
Enforce existing laws effectively. That will protect women, and 
everyone, in the workplace.
  The number of working women in the U.S. is higher than ever--nearly 
75 million--with more women entering the workforce in the last 2 years 
than men. That is the type of fairness we should continue to strive 
for.
  I support policies that help more women become their own boss, not 
unlimited paydays for trial lawyers.

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