Title: A resolution commemorating the 57th anniversary of the establishment of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, recognizing the importance of the Commission in addressing inequities in our economy, and recognizing the tremendous amount of work left to further protect the rights of workers, hold employers accountable for workplace discrimination and harassment, and address the wage gap.
Policy area: Labor and Employment

Summary:
This resolution recognizes the critical role the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plays in addressing long-standing issues including the wage gap, combating workplace harassment, and ensuring all workers are treated with dignity and respect in the workplace.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 707 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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117th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 707

 Commemorating the 57th anniversary of the establishment of the Equal 
 Employment Opportunity Commission, recognizing the importance of the 
Commission in addressing inequities in our economy, and recognizing the 
    tremendous amount of work left to further protect the rights of 
 workers, hold employers accountable for workplace discrimination and 
                 harassment, and address the wage gap.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 13, 2022

 Mrs. Murray (for herself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Casey, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Brown, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Reed, 
 Ms. Warren, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. 
    Merkley, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Markey, Mr. Carper, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Booker, Mr. Peters, Ms. Smith, 
 Mr. Hickenlooper, Mr. King, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. 
 Feinstein, Mr. Coons, Ms. Rosen, and Ms. Cortez Masto) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, 
                     Education, Labor, and Pensions

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Commemorating the 57th anniversary of the establishment of the Equal 
 Employment Opportunity Commission, recognizing the importance of the 
Commission in addressing inequities in our economy, and recognizing the 
    tremendous amount of work left to further protect the rights of 
 workers, hold employers accountable for workplace discrimination and 
                 harassment, and address the wage gap.

Whereas July 2, 2022, marks the 57th anniversary of the formation of the Equal 
        Employment Opportunity Commission (referred to in this preamble as the 
        ``EEOC''), established by title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 
        U.S.C. 2000e et seq.);
Whereas the mission of the EEOC is to prevent and remedy unlawful employment 
        discrimination and advance equal opportunity for all in the workplace, 
        including through education, outreach, investigations, and litigation;
Whereas the EEOC is responsible for enforcing Federal laws that prohibit 
        discrimination in employment, including harassment and compensation 
        discrimination, including--

    (1) section 6(d) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (commonly 
known as the ``Equal Pay Act of 1963'') (29 U.S.C. 206(d)), which prohibits 
employment discrimination on account of sex in the payment of wages by 
employers;

    (2) title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000e et 
seq.), which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, 
color, religion, national origin, and sex, including gender identity and 
sexual orientation;

    (3) the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. 621 et 
seq.), which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of age;

    (4) the Pregnancy Discrimination Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-555), which 
prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of pregnancy, childbirth, 
or a related medical condition;

    (5) title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 
12111 et seq.) and sections 501 and 505 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 
(29 U.S.C. 791, 794a), which prohibit employment discrimination on the 
basis of disability; and

    (6) title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 
(42 U.S.C. 2000ff et seq.), which prohibits employment discrimination on 
the basis of genetic information;

Whereas, since 1965, the United States has made great progress in ensuring equal 
        opportunity and fair treatment in the workplace for women, workers of 
        color, workers with disabilities, older workers, and other workers;
Whereas title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 promises workers that they can 
        earn a paycheck without facing discrimination or harassment in the 
        workplace and without fear of retaliation;
Whereas the EEOC plays a vital role in making that promise a reality by 
        investigating workplace discrimination and harassment, and by enforcing 
        Federal anti-discrimination statutes;
Whereas, in fiscal year 2021, the EEOC resolved over 62,000 charges and 
        recovered over $350,000,000 in remedies for violations of anti-
        discrimination laws, and between fiscal years 2018 and 2021, the EEOC 
        received over 98,000 charges alleging harassment, of which, over 27,000 
        were related to sexual harassment;
Whereas, despite the progress that has been made toward equity and fairness in 
        the workplace, the gender wage gap persists, and according to the most 
        recent data and updated methodology, women were paid just 73 cents for 
        every dollar paid to men in 2020, with even greater disparities for 
        women of color;
Whereas the EEOC's own extensive study of sexual harassment in the workplace 
        concluded that it is difficult to even know how many individuals 
        experience sexual harassment, a critical first step to addressing 
        harassment and ensuring that workers feel safe; and
Whereas tipped workers (who are largely low wage, women, and immigrant workers) 
        are more likely to experience workplace harassment and retaliation, and 
        account for 14 percent of harassment charges to the EEOC, a high share 
        of such harassment charges: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the critical role the Equal Employment 
        Opportunity Commission (referred to in this resolution as the 
        ``EEOC'') plays in addressing longstanding issues including the 
        wage gap, combating workplace harassment, and ensuring all 
        workers, including LGBTQ+ workers, workers with disabilities, 
        pregnant workers, and workers of color, are treated with 
        dignity and respect in the workplace; and
            (2) recognizes the work that still remains to be done to 
        secure the rights and opportunities guaranteed by Federal anti-
        discrimination laws, which ensure all workers have a fair shot 
        at success in the workplace.
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