“Following the economic disruption the pandemic caused, women are back in the labor force in record numbers, but women in general – and moms in particular – are experiencing a punitive wage gap that depresses our wages and causes great harm to our families. This shameful wage gap persists because Congress has failed to prioritize the policies and investments needed to close it. 

“The numbers are sobering. Overall, moms who work full-time are paid just 74 cents compared to dads who work full-time, and moms of color are hit even harder by unfair pay because of structural racism. It’s disgraceful that Black moms are paid just 53 cents, Indigenous moms just 49 cents, and Latina moms just 51 cents on the dollar paid to white dads, and that single moms are paid just 54 cents on the dollar paid to married dads. 

“The appalling wage gap that harms so many moms and their families must end. Our economy depends on women’s paid and unpaid labor. But women and moms are shortchanged on their paychecks because of discrimination and because our economy punishes caregiving. We need Congress to help close the wage gap and build an economy that works by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would promote transparency in our workplaces and increase penalties for discrimination. We will continue to fight until all moms and all women are paid fairly. Closing the wage gap would be a huge win for families, our economy and our nation.” 

– Statement of Ruth Martin, Senior Vice President and Chief Workplace Justice Officer, MomsRising

“The wage gap is inherently unjust, disproportionately harms moms and moms of color, and also devastates our economy. It puts strain on moms’ budgets and hurts children and families who depend on moms’ incomes. We must take immediate steps to close it.

“A majority of moms will serve as their family’s primary breadwinner at some point during their first 18 years of parenting. When we aren’t paid fairly, it makes it harder for our families to afford food, child care, health care, and other basics, and forces too many of us into poverty; and it also hurts businesses and our economy which are fueled by our work and our consumer spending. Moms are counting on lawmakers to take action so families can thrive. 

“America’s moms want lawmakers to close the wage gap by creating the kind of care infrastructure every society needs. That includes paid family and medical leave and earned sick days for all, quality, affordable child care, a minimum wage that is a living wage, a permanently expanded Child Tax Credit, affordable elder and disability care, and more. Lawmakers at the local, state and federal levels should be taking these steps and rejecting the book bans, censorship, division that hate groups like Moms for Liberty are trying to advance. That is what moms and families want and need.” 

– Statement of Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner, Executive Director and CEO, MomsRising