On 50th Anniversary of Equal Pay Act, Slaughter Pushes for Crucial Paycheck Fairness Act

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Ranking Member on the House Rules Committee, acknowledged the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy signing the Equal Pay Act into law by urging her colleagues in Congress to enact the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen the Equal Pay Act.

"Fifty years after the Equal Pay Act, American women are still being short-changed in their paychecks," said Rep. Slaughter. "We can't allow ourselves to get stuck in the 20th century when women are working to meet the needs of the 21st. It's time we strengthen American families by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would ensure true equality for working women."

The Paycheck Fairness Act helps strengthen the Equal Pay Act by providing remedies to women who don't receive equal pay for equal work, as well as protecting employees from retaliation for openly discussing salary information with co-workers.

Despite President Kennedy's proclamation that "when women enter the labor force they will find equality in their pay envelopes," studies show that American women still only receive 77 cents for every dollar made by men for the same work -- a difference of $11,084 on average. The figures in New York State are better than the national average at 84 cents per dollar, but still unequal. According to a new report from the American Association of University Women, men in the State of New York are earning $50,388 on average, whereas women are earning just $42,113 -- a difference of $8,269 per year. The attached graphic provides an illustration of this discrepancy.

A recent Pew Research Center study showed nearly 40% of families with children under 18 rely on women to be the sole breadwinners. Being unable to earn as much as men for doing the same jobs means women will be less able to provide for their families and meet their financial needs.

Congresswoman Slaughter and House Democrats passed the Paycheck Fairness Act in the House in both 2008 and 2009 -- only to be blocked both times by a Republican filibuster in the Senate.

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