Statement from Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, CEO and executive director of MomsRising, an online and on-the-ground organization of more than one million mothers and their families, on Latina Equal Pay Day - the day that marks how long Latinas have to work in 2018 to catch up to what White, non-Hispanic men were typically paid in 2017.

“Today marks the last of a long line of Equal Pay Days that highlight the continued appalling injustice of wage discrimination in this country. Latinas face an extreme, punitive wage gap: For every dollar paid to a white, non-Hispanic man, Latinas are paid just 53 cents. That adds up to average losses of more than $25,000 each year– earnings that could be used for rent, groceries, child care, education, health care and more. These gaps are even more punitive for Latina mothers, who are paid less than half of what is paid to white, non-Hispanic fathers.

“Latinas should not have to work 22 months to be paid what white, non-Hispanic men are paid in 12. These gaps are intolerable and must end.

“The moms of America will continue to use our voices and our votes to demand equal pay for Latinas and for all women. Closing these outrageous gaps should be a top priority for every lawmaker elected next Tuesday. We need policies that address the root causes of pay gaps and boost economic security for our families and communities -- policies like paid family and medical leave, earned sick days, fair pay and affordable childcare. The new Congress should move quickly to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, the Healthy Families Act and the Family And Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act to make our workplaces more fair.

“When Latinas are shortchanged on their paychecks, it hampers their economic mobility and damages our nation’s families, communities and economy. We will not rest until all wage gaps are closed.”