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Pelosi Statement on Equal Pay Day

April 10, 2018

Contact: Ashley Etienne/Henry Connelly, 202-226-7616

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement marking 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:

"Equal Pay Day reminds us all of the work that remains to realize our nation's fundamental principle of fairness, and secure equal pay for equal work. American women who work full-time still earn on average only 80 cents for every dollar earned by men. For minority women, the wage gap is even more staggering, with African American women earning only 63 cents and Latinas earning only 54 cents for every dollar earned by white men.

"Securing pay equity means securing economic justice and opportunity for all. The wage gap robs women of a total of $403,440 over the course of their careers, making it much more difficult for millions of hard-working women and their families to pay their monthly bills for groceries, rent, child care, and health care. Yet, instead of working with Democrats to close the wage gap and help lift up working families, Republicans have ignored this vital issue and cynically worked to undermine the strength of the middle class.

"Congress must finally pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to strengthen and close loopholes in the 1963 Equal Pay Act and give women the tools they need to ensure they are paid fairly and equally to their male counterparts. Democrats remain committed to this critical fight and will continue to press for real change that ensures women earn the wages they deserve."

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