A new government report shows the pay gap for women in management remains significant. The report found that, on average, women comprised 40 percent of managers in 2007 and earned 81 cents for every dollar earned by male counterparts. That is only a slight increase from the 2000 study when women managers earned 79 cents for every dollar earned by male managers.

We have more to do to realize fully the principle of “Equal Pay for Equal Work.” Earlier this Congress I helped enact the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to restore the fundamental right of women and other workers to contest pay discrimination, giving them their day in court. To prevent pay discrimination in the first place, I also helped the House pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen penalties for violations under the original Equal Pay Act. Unfortunately, the Senate has failed to act on the legislation. I would hope reports like this spur renewed action to address this enduring problem.

The Tyler Clementi Tragedy

There is so much about the death of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi that is tragic, foremost the loss of a promising young man and musician with his whole life ahead of him.

The tragedy of Tyler Clementi’s death – like the suicides of three other teens who killed themselves this month after being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation – is also a reminder that the rights of LGBT Americans have never been fully realized. They are still discriminated against in the workplace, thrown out of the military, and as we have seen, bullied at school. This discrimination takes a real, personal toll. It is discrimination against a whole class of Americans and it must stop. This is the next chapter yet to be written of the American struggle for civil rights.

Click here to read more about my thoughts on this tragedy. You may want to pass along to friends, families, and coworkers the contact information for national, well-regarded 24 hours a day, 7 days a week confidential support organizations:

Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-TALK

The Trevor Lifeline (866) 4-U-TREVOR

National Hopeline Network (800) 442-HOPE

Solving Your Problems

An East Brunswick resident filed his business taxes on the normal quarterly schedule, but the Internal Revenue Service denied ever receiving the paperwork for multiple tax deadlines. As a result, the IRS assessed him with nearly a $1 million penalty that he could not afford to pay and that would shut down his business. After he asked me for help I contacted the IRS, which acknowledged the error and canceled the penalty.

As your Representative, I have helped more than 21,000 constituents resolve their everyday problems. If I can help you – whether by securing VA benefits, solving problems with the IRS, or helping to obtain a fair treatment on your home mortgage – please call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT or go to my website.