Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) called for the end of wage discrimination on Equal Pay Day, which symbolizes when, more than three months into the year, women’s wages finally catch up to what men were paid in the previous year.

“It’s appalling that more than 50 years after passing the Equal Pay Act, women still make less than men,” DelBene said. “Women across our country – whether they are coders or U.S. soccer players – are being paid a fraction of what their male counterparts make. Equal pay is not just good for women – it’s good for families, businesses and our economy. We can’t afford to wait another 50 years. Congress must pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to make equal pay for equal work a reality.”

DelBene recently sent a letter calling for pay equity between the U.S. Soccer Federation men’s and women’s national teams after five U.S. Women’s National Team (U.S.W.N.T.) players – including Seattle Reign’s Megan Rapinoe and Hope Solo – filed a federal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for wage discrimination. 

Last year, DelBene joined Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would help close the wage gap between women and men working the same jobs. On average, a woman earns only 79 cents for every dollar made by a man.

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