DeLauro: 43 Years of Equal Pay Act, Yet Wage Gap Still Exists

DeLauro: 43 Years of Equal Pay Act, Yet Wage Gap Still Exists

- Paycheck Fairness Act needed now more than ever -

Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (Conn.-3) today issued the following statement in advance of the 43rd anniversary of the Equal Pay Act tomorrow. On June 10, 1963, President John Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act and called it the first step in addressing "the unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job." At that time women earned 59 cents for each dollar earned by a man. Today, working women earn about 77 cents for every dollar earned by men.

"President Kennedy understood the importance of equal pay for equal work and signed historic legislation that gave women around the country hope that one day their wages would be on par with that of their male counterparts," said DeLauro. "Yet after 43 years of having the Equal Pay Act in place, how can a wage gap still exist? The Paycheck Fairness Act would remedy this disparity."

"Evening the playing field for women workers is a matter of fairness and with women now providing a significant share of their family's income, it is a family issue. Congress must strengthen America's equal pay laws and correct practices that undervalue women and minority women workers."

http://www.house.gov/delauro/press/2006/June/equal_pay_6_9_06.html