In the months leading up to last week’s vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act, AAUW staff from every department and members from across the country enthusiastically came together for a common purpose. AAUW’s leadership and work on this critical bill has always been a genuine team effort. Although the Senate failed to act, we didn’t. AAUW underscored our collective commitment to pay equity with every action we took, every letter we wrote, every call we made. Your AAUW staff shares your disappointment and we wanted to take a moment to reflect on the big vote — and our optimism about the ongoing fight for fair pay.
“I took the news of the vote personally yesterday. My colleagues worked so hard, and the bill has so much public support and would do so much good, it just seemed like a no-brainer to me. I’m disappointed and sad, but I know we’re not giving up. I’m looking forward to helping with the next big push for paycheck fairness.”
— Liz Bolton, Managing Editor
“It’s really too bad the bill’s opponents in the Senate took the easy route over the substantive and democratic one, but you live, you learn. If nothing else, this defeat only makes me want to fight harder and smarter for the next round. Watch out folks, AAUW will be back with a fury!”
— Wendy Matheny, Grassroots Leadership Coordinator
“I think it’s a travesty our elected officials didn’t pass this bill. Equal pay for equal work shouldn’t be seen as a privilege, it is the right of every American worker.”
— Donnae N. Wahl, Leadership Programs Fellow
“When calling members to urge them to contact their senators to support the Paycheck Fairness Act, I was amazed by the level of enthusiasm and passion that I heard on the other end of the line. It’s that level of energy that will carry us through to the next legislative battle and the next, until we finally make this basic right a reality.”
— Emily Pfefer, Public Policy and Government Relations Fellow
“We were only two votes short; you can look at this negatively or positively. We were so close, which is a hard pill to swallow. But on the other hand, we were so close that the next time we will already be so close to it passing. We aren’t giving up!”
— Tracy Sherman, Associate Director of Government Relations
“Despite the bill’s defeat, I am encouraged that at AAUW we are spreading the message about the pay gap and ways to close it through $tart $mart salary negotiation workshops across the country. Educating college women about this issue is key to empowering the next leaders for women’s equity.”
— Kate Farrar, Director of Leadership Programs
“When I arrived in D.C. a year and a half ago, I first cut my teeth lobbying on this bill. I’ve invested a lot, maybe even most, of my professional career so far in fighting for pay equity; my disappointment in the Senate’s failure to act is only aggravated by the fact that it was my senators (Snowe and Collins) who were our best prospects for cloture and yet let us all down. Yet I believe, as Dr. King put it, in the ‘critical urgency of now’ — American women and families need this, so we’re going to do it.”
— Samuel Lehman, Grassroots Advocacy Coordinator
“I’m still in shock that the Paycheck Fairness Act did not pass in the Senate yesterday. And then to see that the New York Times apparently didn’t even mention it in their print edition, nor was it headlined in most major media?! I think it’s time the women of America flood both the media and the Senate and let them know the fight for equal pay is here to stay.”
— Christy Jones, Director of Membership
“Yesterday, I sat in the Senate gallery for the first time and watched our nation’s legislators at work. As the senators’ names were called and votes came in, I looked at those around me — Lilly Ledbetter, Lisa Maatz, my co-workers, and fellow coalition members — and saw the quiet anticipation on their faces. The votes were tallied and we didn’t reach 60. But when we stood up and walked out of the gallery, it was not with defeat, but with a stronger determination than ever before to continue the fight for pay equity. This is far from over.”
— Dawn Aldrich, Interdepartmental Administrative Assistant
“I was among those rapidly dialing AAUW members to ask, ‘Can you make a call to your senator? We need you.’ And without hesitation you all said yes! What a sad day it was in our offices when the Senate missed their opportunity to join us and say yes to fair pay. How I fear for my own daughters. But then I remember that we are not alone, we have 100,000 friends across the country giving their time, talent, and treasure so that we can all win another day. I am proud to work with AAUW and have no doubt that we are best positioned to advance equality for women and girls.”
— Laura McCulty Stepp, Director of Development
“While it is hard to feel anything other than disappointment and frustration about what happened yesterday, I felt a part of something so tremendous, widespread, and valuable, and that feeling came directly from my colleagues, coalition partners, AAUW’s Lobby Corps, and the thousands of activists who urged each other on, tirelessly e-mailed, called, and treaded the marble floors of Capitol Hill. We will do it again!”
— Anne Hedgepeth, Government Relations Coordinator
“The recent work of our public policy team on the Paycheck Fairness Act made me especially proud to be a part of AAUW. I am confident that when the opportunity comes again, we will be ready.”
— Catherine Hill, Director of Research
“The fact is that we had a majority of U.S. senators’ votes in support of the Paycheck Fairness Act. What’s especially frustrating is that this critical bill became a victim of arcane Senate rules. The de facto filibuster ensured that we never got to a debate on the bill’s merits. Strategically, I can’t blame them — they can’t win a fair fight against pay equity. Yes, the vote was seriously disappointing, but AAUW is nothing if not persistent — we’re 130 years’ worth of persistent.”
— Lisa Maatz, Director of Public Policy and Government Relations
“I was disappointed by the Senate’s refusal to do the right thing, but I was so moved by the passion and dedication of everyone who worked for this important bill. It won’t be today, but we’ll get there.”
— Beth Scott, Regulatory Affairs Manager
“Despite the defeat of such a historic bill, our campaign for the Paycheck Fairness Act by no means failed. When you have everyone from interns and department directors to members in Anchorage, Alaska and Alexandria, Virginia all pitching in, there is a great sense of success. If we can keep that spirit of unity moving forward, then this Senate vote is not going to stop us from getting pay equity.”
— Rachel Wallace, Associate Writer
“While I was pleased to learn that both senators from my home state of Virginia (Webb and Warner) voted in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act yesterday, I was deeply saddened when it failed on a procedural vote. My friends and family remain hopeful that the next Congress may find the courage and the leadership necessary to redress the injustice of gender discrimination and the wage gap.”
— Alan Callander, Social Media Manager
“I’m in awe of the persistence of AAUW members to plug away for years meeting with members of Congress, writing letters, and reaching out to partners in their communities on this issue. It’s an honor to work with such a tireless community of activists.”
— Seth Chase, Field Director
“I am extremely disappointed by the defeat of the Paycheck Fairness Act. My retirement is affected every day this legislation is not passed. However, like AAUW, I work daily to support this and other issues on behalf of women and girls. My commitment is demonstrated by my nearly two-decade employment at AAUW.”
— Claudia Richards, Senior Branch Relations Manager
“This was a missed opportunity to make history and jump-start real economic change for American women and their families. While the Senate’s action is difficult to comprehend given the stark reality that most families depend on the paychecks of women, our effort to close the pay gap is far from over.”
— Linda D. Hallman, Executive Director
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