DeLauro Statement on Equal Pay Day

Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03) today released a statement highlighting Equal Pay Day, which marks how far into the year women would have to work to earn the same amount as their male counterparts.

“It is long overdue that we eliminate pay discrimination. Equal Pay Day is not a celebration, and women should not have to wait until well into the new year for their earnings to catch up to the earnings of men from the previous year. Equal Pay Day should be December 31st, not well into March. The work of women is still unfairly undervalued. That means it is time to make the Paycheck Fairness Act the law of the land, which would close the wage gap by empowering women to challenge pay discrimination in their workplace.

“We must also move a new social agenda that meets women and workers where they are. This includes several priorities I have fought for throughout my career that would help women in the workforce thrive – like paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, wage theft prevention, and the expanded and improved Child Tax Credit.

“It is a simple concept that has eluded us for far too long: equal pay for equal work. This Equal Pay Day, let’s commit ourselves to giving women the tools to fight for equal wages.”