Hastings Marks Equal Pay Day

(Washington, D.C.) Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement marking Equal Pay Day, the date which symbolizes when the average woman’s wages catch up to the earnings of her male counterpart in the previous year:

“This Equal Pay Day, we celebrate the passage by the House of Representatives of H.R.7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, which moves our country towards closing the gender wage gap. I am proud to be an original cosponsor of H.R.7, and to have cast my vote for this landmark legislation. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take up this important measure and send it to the President’s desk without delay.

“Equal Pay Day also serves as a crucial reminder that much work remains to be done to ensure that all workers, regardless of age, gender, race, religion, or disability are fairly and equally compensated for their work. Although the Equal Pay Act was enacted over half a century ago, women still face stunning wage disparities when compared to their male counterparts. In Florida, women earn 87 cents for every dollar that a man makes. In my district, women earned nearly $4,000 less than men in 2017. Even more glaring disparities in income are faced by women of color. It is simply unacceptable that, in virtually any occupation a woman chooses, she encounters pay disparities. All of these pay inequities add up over a woman’s working life, making it a struggle to meet her daily needs and those of her family.

“I will continue fighting to ensure full economic equality for workers across our country. It is imperative that we end this form of wage discrimination and ensure that all Americans earn equal pay for equal work.”

Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Vice-Chairman of the House Rules Committee, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.