Pelosi Statement on Equal Pay Day

Contact: Nadeam Elshami/Drew Hammill, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. — Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today on Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the year a woman must work, on average, to earn as much as a man earned the previous year:

“On Equal Pay Day, we recommit ourselves to the cause of economic prosperity for all Americans, which is only possible through equal pay for equal work. By ensuring fairness and equality in the workplace, we can strengthen American families and indeed the nation.

“I’m proud of the accomplishments of the Democratic-led Congress on behalf of equal pay and fairness. The Lilly Ledbetter Act — the first bill President Obama signed into law —restored the right of women and other workers to challenge unfair pay in court. Further, under the Affordable Care Act, soon women will no longer be charged higher premiums than men for the same coverage and no longer will being a woman be treated as a pre-existing condition.

"On Equal Pay Day, we honor all of our nation’s women, who through their labor – at home and in the workplace – have made our country strong. And we recommit to opening the doors of opportunity for the next generation of women.”

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