Congresswoman Lee Marks Equal Pay Day, Calls for Renewed Effort to Ensure Equal Pay for Equal Work

Washington, DC  - Congresswoman Barbara Lee released the following statement recognizing Equal Pay Day. The day, April 14th, symbolizes when the average woman’s paycheck finally catch up to men’s paychecks from the previous year.

“In 2015, equal pay for equal work should be a reality. Yet millions of women still experience institutionalized sexism with every paycheck.

For every dollar a man earns, women earn just 78 cents. For women of color that situation is even worse. On average, African-American women earn just 64 cents on the dollar and Latinas earn a mere 56 cents for every dollar paid to white men.

The wage gap not only hurts women; it hurts their families and our economy. It’s kitchen table economics. When women are paid less, families have less money for every day essentials.

The wage gap is a relic of a bygone era and has no place in our country.

Congress must act immediately to ensure equal pay for equal work. I am proud to be working with my colleagues to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act because women should have the tools to fight pay discrimination without fear of retaliation.

As we mark yet another year of persistent pay discrimination, I urge all my colleagues to do the right thing and immediately pass the Paycheck Fairness Act.”

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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus and co-chair of the Progressive Caucus. She serves as chair of the Whip’s Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.