Issue Position: Women and the Economy

Issue Position

As a single mom who struggled to make ends meet, Donna knows first-hand that the continued success of working families relies upon making the right investments in the economic security of women and families. It is imperative that women receive equal pay for equal work, have access to affordable childcare, and can take paid sick leave in order to balance their families and careers.

In Maryland, we have work to do:

In Maryland, women earn about 86 cents for every dollar earned by men.
African American women earn only 70 cents and Hispanic women only earn 47 cents for every dollar earned by a man.
In virtually every county across the state, women are facing a wage gap--from a 10.3 cent gap in Charles County to a 32.4 cent wage gap in St. Mary's County.
With Prince George's County as the lone exception, the wage gap continues to hold Maryland's women and families back.
As Chair of the Democratic Women's Working Group, Donna worked with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to launch "When Women Succeed, America Succeeds: An Economic Agenda for Women and Families.' The agenda focused on three principles: pay equity, childcare, and work-life balance.

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