Hoyer Statement on Equal Pay Day

WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on Equal Pay Day: 

“Today marks the day that a woman would finally earn, on average, the salary that a man earned in 2015 for the same work.  On Equal Pay Day, we acknowledge how much more we must do as a nation to close the wage gap and make fair wages and opportunity equally accessible to all Americans.  When a woman in America still earns an average of 79 cents to a man’s dollar, even after having attained the same level of experience and education, there is something profoundly wrong.  The wage gap not only disadvantages women who worked just as hard to earn less; it also hurts those families supported by women’s incomes.   

“I’m proud to stand up and fight for equal pay for equal work, and I will continue to help lead House Democrats’ efforts to end the pay gap by passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, of which I am an original cosponsor.  Just as when I brought the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to the Floor as Majority Leader in 2009, I will not rest until we pass the Paycheck Fairness Act as well so that every woman who works hard can have an equal chance to Make It In America.   I urge House Republicans to work with us to advance this critical legislation for millions of women and their families without delay.”