April 18, 2005
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), lauded the introduction of the Equal Paycheck Fairness Act, and called for an end to the disparities in pay between men and women on Equal Pay Day.
“It is time to end the wage gap between men and women,” said Lee. “Despite many positive changes in women’s participation in the work force, the fact is that women continue to earn lower wages compared to men, and that is just wrong.”
In 2004, women still earned only 76¢ for every dollar earned by a man. Women of color were worse off - African American women made 66¢ on the dollar compared to the highest earners, white men, while Hispanic women made only 54¢. According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, working women stand to lose $250,000 over the course of their career because of unequal pay practices.
The Paycheck Fairness Act, which was introduced today by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Lee, is designed to eliminate gender based wage discrimination and ensure that women will finally earn what men earn for doing the same job.
“This is a basic, common sense issue that affects all working women and their families,” said Lee. “By getting rid of this unfair treatment in the labor market we are helping women and we are helping families.”
Equal Pay Day marks the date when the wages paid to American women "catch up" to the wages paid to men from the previous year. This year that day is April 19.
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Barbara Lee Calls for End to the Wage Gap on Equal Pay Day
Co-Sponsors the Equal Paycheck Fairness Act
(Washington, DC) – Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland), lauded the introduction of the Equal Paycheck Fairness Act, and called for an end to the disparities in pay between men and women on Equal Pay Day.
“It is time to end the wage gap between men and women,” said Lee. “Despite many positive changes in women’s participation in the work force, the fact is that women continue to earn lower wages compared to men, and that is just wrong.”
In 2004, women still earned only 76¢ for every dollar earned by a man. Women of color were worse off - African American women made 66¢ on the dollar compared to the highest earners, white men, while Hispanic women made only 54¢. According to the National Committee on Pay Equity, working women stand to lose $250,000 over the course of their career because of unequal pay practices.
The Paycheck Fairness Act, which was introduced today by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and co-sponsored by Lee, is designed to eliminate gender based wage discrimination and ensure that women will finally earn what men earn for doing the same job.
“This is a basic, common sense issue that affects all working women and their families,” said Lee. “By getting rid of this unfair treatment in the labor market we are helping women and we are helping families.”
Equal Pay Day marks the date when the wages paid to American women "catch up" to the wages paid to men from the previous year. This year that day is April 19.
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