Janice Schakowsky: “Today is ``Take Your Daughter to Work Day,'' and on this day Democrats call for action to make sure that our daughters…”

“Today is ``Take Your Daughter to Work Day,'' and on this day Democrats call for action to make sure that our daughters can earn the same wages as our sons. As we go into the 21st century, pay inequity is persistent and real. Today women must work for 14 months to earn what their male counterparts earn in a year. We earn 74 cents to every dollar that a man earns. In Illinois, my State, it is actually worse. Women earn only 70 cents. Pay inequity hurts women and their families. Women lose about $420,000 in wages and benefits because of unfair pay practices. It is time to put an end to this very real and costly inequity in the workplace once and for all. Democrats, the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. Rosa DeLauro), and I am proud to have joined her, have introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, H.R. 541, to help eliminate the wage gap that still exists between men and women. When my granddaughter Isabel, who is just 1 year old, enters the work force, I certainly want to be part of the solution guaranteeing that she makes exactly what her male counterparts make.”