Political Quotes

“our Nation is built on some fundamental ideas. One of those ideas is fairness. But there are millions of women across this country today who are doing the same job as their male colleagues and are being paid less. That is why on this National Equal Pay Day, I stand with my fellow Senators to close the pay equity gap and ensure equal pay for equal work. Fifty-eight years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women still only earn, on average, 82 cents for every dollar paid to men. This wage gap is even worse for women of color. African-American women who work full time make only 63 cents for every dollar paid to White males. Hispanic women make only 55 cents on the dollar. In nearly every industry in our country, women's median earnings remain less than their male counterparts. There has been one profound change since the passage of the Equal Pay Act 58 years ago. Forty-one percent of women are now the primary-or only-breadwinners for their families. In my own State of Illinois, women earn, on average, just 81 cents for every dollar earned by men. African-American women in Illinois make just 63 cents for every dollar paid to White males. Hispanic women are paid even less-just 49 cents on the dollar. This pay discrimination hurts working families. More than one-third of households led by women in Illinois live in poverty. Over their lifetimes, this persistent pay equity gap will cost the average woman in my State nearly $500,000 in lost wages.…”