April 20 2005 - House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on Equal Pay Day. Equal Pay Day symbolizes the day each year that women's wages catch up to men's wages from the previous year:
"Equal pay is not simply a women's issue, but a family issue. The wage gap hurts everyone -- husbands, wives, children, and parents -- because it lowers family incomes that pay for essentials: groceries, doctors' visits, and child care. Furthermore, 41 percent of women are their families' sole source of income. When women earn more, an entire family benefits. We must ensure equal pay for women and families.
"Unfortunately, the economic policies of the Bush Administration are hurting women and their families. Women today earn only 77 cent for every dollar men earn; women of color fare worse, with African-American women earning only 66 cents, and Hispanic women 54 cents, to each dollar earned by a white man. Yet, President Bush has eliminated the Equal Pay Initiative, which was designed to expand federal enforcement against discriminatory practices that threaten equal pay for women and minorities.
"Democrats are working to close the pay gap. Rep. Rosa DeLauro has introduced the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen the Equal Pay Act to provide more effective remedies to women who are not being paid equal wages for doing equal work. I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this superb legislation."
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