At Press Conference, Murray, DeLauro, Pelosi Applaud House Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, Urge Senate Action
Senator Murray: Every Senator “represents a state where about half the population is earning less than the other half because of their gender. That should be unacceptable regardless of whether you’re a Democrat or Republican and it should not be controversial or remotely partisan to try and end this injustice.”
Senator Murray: “So I urge Republicans in the Senate to join us in our efforts to finally guarantee equal pay for equal work. But know that Democrats will not stop fighting until we get this done.”
***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-3), Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA-12), Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA-3), Congresswoman Alma Adams (D-NC-12), Congresswoman Norma Torres (D-CA-35), and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC-2) hosted a press conference applauding the House passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act and pushing to get the bill across the finish line.
Senator Murray re-introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act in the Senate in January to strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to help eliminate the gender wage gap. The bill is cosponsored by every Democrat in the Senate.
“I’m so thrilled to see the House pass this critical legislation—this is something we should all celebrate,” said Senator Murray at the press conference. “It’s been 50 years since Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, but to this day, women, on average, are still only paid 82 cents for every dollar men make—and the wage gap is far greater for women of color. And this pandemic has only made things worse. The current economic and jobs crises has set women—and in particular, women of color—back even further and made clear just how urgent it is that we act.”
“But as we celebrate this important achievement today, we know that our work is not done. Each and every one of my Republican colleagues represents a state where about half the population is earning less than the other half because of their gender. That should be unacceptable regardless of whether you’re a Democrat or Republican and it should not be controversial or remotely partisan to try and end this injustice,” continued Senator Murray. “So I urge Republicans in the Senate to join us in our efforts to finally guarantee equal pay for equal work. But know that Democrats will not stop fighting until we get this done.”
More than five decades after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women on average still make only 82 cents, for every dollar earned by men. That gap is even wider for women of color. Compared to white men, Black women are paid 63 cents and Latina women are paid 55 cents on the dollar. For a woman working full time, year-round, the current wage gap represents a loss of more than $400,000 over the course of her career.
Senator Murray’s full remarks, as prepared for delivery, can be found below.
“I’m so thrilled to see the House pass this critical legislation—this is something we should all celebrate.
“It’s been 50 years since Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, but to this day, women, on average, are still only paid 82 cents for every dollar men make—and the wage gap is far greater for women of color.
“And this pandemic has only made things worse. The current economic and jobs crises has set women—and in particular, women of color—back even further and made clear just how urgent it is that we act.
“We have a responsibility to make sure that women can protect themselves against wage discrimination and get the pay that they deserve.
“And we also have a responsibility to get our economy back on track.
“We know that if women don’t recover from this pandemic—our economy won’t recover.
“So it’s critical that as we build back a stronger, fairer economy, we guarantee that women can challenge pay discrimination, hold their employers accountable, and finally receive equal pay for equal work.
“And that’s exactly what the Paycheck Fairness Act will do—and exactly what Democrats have long been fighting for.
“These meaningful and commonsense steps that the House passed today would help eliminate the wage gap that has been so deeply harmful to women across the country—and help us on our path to economic recovery.
“But as we celebrate this important achievement today, we know that our work is not done.
“Each and every one of my Republican colleagues represents a state where about half the population is earning less than the other half because of their gender.
“That should be unacceptable regardless of whether you’re a Democrat or Republican and it should not be controversial or remotely partisan to try and end this injustice.
“But it is the right thing to do for our families, our communities, and our economy.
“So I urge Republicans in the Senate to join us in our efforts to finally guarantee equal pay for equal work.
“But know that Democrats will not stop fighting until we get this done. Thank you, and I’ll turn it over to my friend Congressman Scott.
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