On Equal Pay Day, Sutton Says More can be Done

Press Release

On Equal Pay Day, Sutton Says More can be Done

Today, Equal Pay Day, Rep. Betty Sutton stated that ensuring that there is truly equal pay for equal work in this country should be a key priority of the new Congress, calling for strengthening the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

“Equal pay for equal work is not a Democratic or Republican issue, it is an American issue,” said Sutton. “Much more must be done, to ensure that the wage gap becomes history and not reality.

“Thirty-four years have passed since President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law in 1963, and yet women still earn significantly less than men for doing the same workâ€"this is wrong.

“Unequal pay not only hurts women, it hurts husbands, children, and families because it lowers family incomes that pay the essential bills for groceries, health care, and child care. We must pass legislation to strengthen the Equal Pay act so this Democratic Congress can continue to strengthen America’s families.

“In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was signed, women who worked full-time, year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. In 2006, women only earned 77 cents for every dollar earned by men, nearly a quarter less of what men earn. While I am encouraged by the progress, it remains excruciatingly slowâ€"with the wage gap narrowing by less than half a cent per year.

“For every $1,000 the typical woman earns, she has $230 less than white males to spend on groceries, housing, child care or other expenses. Women of color fare even worse: African-American women earn only 67 cents, and Latinas only 56 cents for every $1.00 earned by white men.

“I wholeheartedly support the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help permanently close these unequal and unfair realities. It is my hope that the new Democratic-led Congress will enact this bill this year, which would ensure the Equal Pay Act of 1963 contains sufficient provisions to close the income gap.

“This bill would ensure that women are paid equal wages for equal work, by giving the Department of Labor the opportunity to enhance outreach and training programs to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities and would provide awards for employers that make strides in eliminating pay disparities.

“It is our duty as Americans, to eradicate this unfairness so that all families are rewarded equally for equal work and have access to a bright future.”

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