Press Releases

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene issued the following statement today to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act:

“When the Equal Pay Act was signed into law 50 years ago, women on average made 59 cents for every dollar earned by men. Today women make 77 cents for every dollar men earn.  While we have made some progress, it’s clear that we are still nowhere near the goal of equal pay for equal work.

“At a time when a growing number of women are the main source of income for their families, the gender wage gap is more than just a statistic.  When working mothers make less than their male counterparts, families have less to spend on basic necessities like child care, groceries, and rent. 

“Today is the 50^th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act, and we must re-double our efforts to achieve pay equity in our country. A key step to getting us closer to our goal is for Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which I am proud to co-sponsor. The Paycheck Fairness Act is common sense legislation that strengthens the Equal Pay Act and would give women the tools they need to fight pay discrimination.

“Closing the gender wage gap is critical to building an economy that works for everyone. It’s time for House leadership to allow the Paycheck Fairness Act a vote on the floor so we can continue to move forward on the promise of pay equity that was made 50 years ago.”

Background:

On June 10, 1963, President John F. Kennedy signed the historic Equal Pay Act, which established the principle of equal pay for equal work for women in the workforce.  When he signed the Equal Pay Act, President Kennedy stated: “I am grateful to those Members of Congress who worked so diligently to guide the Equal Pay Act through.  It is a first step.  It affirms our determination that when women enter the labor force they will find equality in their pay envelopes.”

And yet, 50 years later, women still do not find “equality in their pay envelopes.”  In 1963, when President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act, women who worked full-time, year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men.  Today, women who work full-time, year-round make 77 cents on average for every dollar earned by men.

Over the past 50 years, the Equal Pay Act has never been updated or strengthened.  The Paycheck Fairness Act strengthens and closes loopholes in the Equal Pay Act, including:

• Prohibiting employers from retaliating when workers discuss their salaries; 
• Making gender-based wage discrimination subject to the same remedies as wage discrimination based on race or national  origin;
• Recognizing employers for excellence for pay practices and providing assistance to employers that need help implementing equal pay practices; and
• Enhancing the federal government’s ability to investigate and enforce pay discrimination laws.

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