As We Mark Equal Pay Day, Heinrich Says More Needs To Be Done To Close the Wage Gap Between Women And Men

Press Release

As the country marks Equal Pay Day on April 20, U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich (NM-1) says that more must be done to close the wage gap that still exists between women and men.

"The fact that there is still not equal pay for equal work in this country is unacceptable," said Rep. Heinrich. "In an economic climate where every penny counts, rewarding work fairly is critical. We must close the gender wage gap by ensuring equality in the workplace--creating a fairer, more just society and strengthening the economic stability of our 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 2008, women earned 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. That is progress--but it is slow progress. It means that the wage gap has narrowed by less than half a cent per year.

In his first days in office, Rep. Heinrich co-sponsored two pieces of legislation to bring equity and fairness to all working women: H.R. 11, the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, and H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The Lilly Ledbetter Act, which was signed into law on January 29, 2009, restores the right of women and other workers to challenge unfair pay in court. Specifically, it rectifies the May 2007 Ledbetter v Goodyear Supreme Court decision that overturned precedent and made it much more difficult for workers to pursue pay discrimination claims. The bill simply restores the longstanding interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and other discrimination statutes, thereby protecting women and other workers.

"The enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Act was a major victory for America's women," said Rep. Heinrich. "However, the Senate should also now pass and send to the President's desk the Paycheck Fairness Act, which the House passed in January 2009."

H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act gives teeth to the Equal Pay Act of 1963. It closes numerous loopholes in the Equal Pay Act and stiffens penalties for employers who discriminate based on gender. It protects employees from retaliation for sharing salary information with their co-workers, with some exemptions. And it creates initiatives to provide negotiation skills-training programs for girls and women. Just because gender-based pay discrimination is illegal, does not mean it is no longer a great concern.

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