Debbie Dingell: “I rise today in honor of Equal Pay Day. This is a national day of action to promote fair pay. It is disheartening that…”

“I rise today in honor of Equal Pay Day. This is a national day of action to promote fair pay. It is disheartening that Equal Pay Day comes only once a year. Mr. Speaker, everyday should be equal pay day. Even though we have had equal pay laws on the books for nearly 40 years, women still only earn .73 cents to the male dollar nationally. In my home state of Michigan, that figure is even worse, with women earning an average of .67 cents to the male dollar. Not surprisingly, women of color are in the worst position, earning only .64 cents to the male dollar. This, Mr. Speaker, is quite simply a disgrace. Equal work deserves equal pay. But in today's economy, unfair pay hurts more than just women; it hurts families. When women are not paid fairly, it lowers the family income. That means there is less money for essentials like groceries, doctors' visits, and clothes for the children. This is not a women's issue, Mr. Speaker, it is a family issue. We protect America's working families by rectifying this wrong. What can we do? I have two answers for you. 1. We can pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which was introduced by my good friend from Connecticut, Rosa DeLauro. The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen existing equal pay and civil rights laws by providing effective remedies to women who are not being paid equal wages for equal work. 2. We can pass the ERA, reintroduced this year by my good friend and colleague, the gentlewoman from New York, Carolyn Maloney.”