Republican House leadership blocked a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R.377), according to the National Women's Law Center bulletin of 4/15/2013. In order to force a vote under the House rules. Rep. Rosa DeLauro(D/CT) put forward a "discharge petition" to obtain 218 signatures of House Members. Under this procedure, blocked bills will be released for a vote on the House floor. The Paycheck Fairness Act makes it harder for employers to pay women less for doing the same work. It prohibits unfair retaliation against employees who discuss their wages with their co-workers. The Paycheck Fairness Act guarantees that employers who break the law compensate women for the pay they are owed. It is important to contact your Congressman or Congresswoman and ask them to sign the Discharge Petition for H.R.377. Rep Rosa DeLauro pictured below.