On the recordApril 9, 2013
Today, the 9th of April, is called Equal Pay Day because it marks the number of days into 2013 women had to work to equal the salary made by their male counterparts in 2012. It is a sad reality that women systemically continue to be paid less than men for doing the same work. As families increasingly rely on women's wages to make ends meet, equal pay is not simply a women's issue; it is a family issue that impacts our national economy. On average, women receive only 77 cents for every dollar paid to male workers. This disparity results in the loss of nearly $11,000 a year, or the equivalent of 4 months of groceries, 5 months of child care, and over 6 months of rent and utilities. In my home State of California, the wage gap is even more pronounced for black and Latina women, who receive just 64 cents and 42 cents, respectively, for every dollar paid to white men. Mr. Speaker, we have the power to correct this injustice that hurts families and the economy. I urge the Republican leadership to allow a vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act. ____________________
