Statement
STATEMENT OF KRISTIN ROWE-FINKBEINER, CEO and Executive Director, MomsRising, On Introduction of the Paycheck Fairness Act
March 25, 2015
Lisa Lederer, 202-371-1996
Women's Leader Urges Passage of Paycheck Fairness Act, Says Action is ‘Long Overdue’
“Today, the Paycheck Fairness Act was introduced once again in the House and Senate by Representative Rosa DeLauro and Senator Barbara Mikulski. While we praise these champions for their perseverance in pressing for this crucial bill, the moms of America are deply disappointed that this long overdue bill still is not the law of the land.
“It is 2015; we are well into the 21st Century. We have computers that fit in the palm of our hands, allowing us access to a wealth of information in seconds and to speak to anyone in the world whenever we wish. We have battery-powered cars. We can find out about breaking news immediately from almost anywhere thanks to the internet. And still, a shocking wage gap persists between men and women.
“On average, women earn 78 cents to a man's dollar. And this disparity is even greater for moms, single moms and women of color. In fact, one study found that moms make only 73 cents to a man's dollar and single moms make only about 60 cents to a man's dollar. Women of color experience increased wage hits on top of that.
“While no single piece of legislation will close the wage gender gap, the Paycheck Fairness Act would help bring our workplaces into the 21st Century, penalizing employers for equal pay violations, prohibiting retaliation against employees who ask about wage practices, and empowering women to negotiate for equal pay and strengthening equal pay laws.
“We need this bill to help our workplaces address today’s reality. Today, woman are half of the paid labor force, and that includes three-quarters of moms. Despite that, wage and hiring discrimination is still the norm. This bill is crucial to family economic security. Increasingly, families need two wage earners to make ends meet, and the struggle to feed and house a family can be even greater for single moms.
"Wage parity for women would boost our families, our businesses and our larger economy. In fact, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research found that U.S. gross domestic product would grow by 3 percent if women were paid as much as men.
“When moms experience wage discrimination, their families also suffer. Not acting to right the wrong of wage discrimination is not only callous, not only devalues women's important contributions in workplaces, but also negatively affects our overall economy. We urge the House and Senate to move quickly to pass this important and long overdue legislation.”