Washington, DC – DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement on the GOP’s latest effort to block the Paycheck Fairness Act:

“Today, for the fourth time in recent years, Republicans in the Senate voted against the Paycheck Fairness Act – commonsense legislation that would move us closer to equal pay for women. Once again, Republicans refused to join with Democrats to ensure that women are paid fairly and that they have the legal tools they need to fight pay discrimination when it occurs. Some GOP Senators have even gone beyond opposing the legislation to belittling the very idea of voting on Paycheck Fairness, calling it a waste of time, and a show vote. Sadly, it doesn’t come as a surprise that Republicans continue to put rigid partisanship before what’s best for the people that elected them.

“Ensuring that women earn fair and equal pay is a top priority for Democrats not only because it is the right thing to do for American women but because it improves the economic security of our families and the growth of our economy as a whole. Women constitute nearly half of the nation’s work force, and in 40% of U.S. households with children women are their family’s primary breadwinner.

“Today’s vote is just the latest evidence of a Republican Party that is vastly out of touch with the American people, especially women. This November, voters across the country will remember that when given the choice between progress towards pay equity and the clearly discriminatory status quo – the GOP was, as usual, on the wrong side of the issue.”