Thomas Daschle: “35 years ago, President Kennedy took the bold first step to secure equal pay for women. Although there has been much…”

“35 years ago, President Kennedy took the bold first step to secure equal pay for women. Although there has been much progress since 1963, women continue to earn less than men. That is why we must take action to improve and strengthen President Kennedy's landmark law and ensure that America's working women and families are paid the wages they deserve. In 1963, President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act prohibiting employers from paying women less than men for the same job. Knowing that the legislation was merely a first step in the right direction, President Kennedy noted that 'much remains to be done to achieve full equality of economic opportunity.' While the Equal Pay Act prohibited discrimination against women in terms of wages, substantial pay disparities continue to exist. Women still earn, on average, only 74 cents to a man's dollar. That's why fair pay continues to be a major issue for American women and working families. In fact, the dramatic increase in the number of women in the work force and the number of families who depend on women's earnings make fair pay a matter of justice and necessity now more than ever. My state of South Dakota has the highest percentage in the nation of working mothers with children under the age of 6. These families need and deserve both parents to be paid fairly for an honest day's work. Now is the time to take another step toward fair pay and equal treatment for all people.”