WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05) released the following statement Tuesday, April 2 on Equal Pay Day:
“Today on Equal Pay Day, we recognize the amount of time into the new year that women must work in order to earn, on average, what men earn the year prior for the same job. We also acknowledge that the gender pay gap is even worse for women of color and how this disparity in pay affects not only women, but families across the country. With the Democratic-led House having passed the Paycheck Fairness Act last week, I hope that this year’s Equal Pay Day will be one of the last. Our legislation builds on the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which I brought to the Floor as Majority Leader in 2009 and which was the first signed into law by President Obama that year, by making it harder for employers to discriminate against women in pay and benefits. Democrats will continue doing everything in our power to close the wage gap, and I urge the Senate to take up and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act now, so that we can ensure equal pay for equal work.”