Equal Pay

American women know they are not done fighting for equal pay. They know they earn 77 cents for every dollar their male colleagues earn. And while it is critical to remain vigilant on this issue, it is also important to understand the progress that has been made. In 1964 the Equal Pay Act became law. Since then, EMILY’s List candidates in the House of Representatives and the Senate have played crucial roles on the path towards equality for working women. Each time legislation was introduced or voted on, EMILY’s List candidates were either the main sponsor, a co-sponsor or voted for the legislation. Often, nearly all or all of the EMILY’s List candidates serving in Congress at the time supported the legislation and created a strong voting block of support for women’s equality. In floor speeches, EMILY’s List candidates spoke candidly and openly about their firm belief that women should earn what men earn. During the debate over the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in 2009, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro—a longtime champion for women and a proud EMILY’s List member of Congress—said this: “Earlier this week, Lilly Ledbetter wrote to the entire Congress, ‘I may have lost my personal battle, but I have not given up. I am still fighting for all of the other women and girls out there who deserve equal pay and equal treatment under the law.’ Madam Speaker, ensuring pay equity can help families gain the resources they need to give their children a better future, the great promise of the American Dream. Let us make good on that promise, pass this bill, and make sure women who face the discrimination that Lilly Ledbetter faced have the right to fight against it.” The support of EMILY’s List Representatives was key to the passage of the Ledbetter act in the House. Closing the wage gap in America would help answer the promise of the American Dream for women and families and EMILY’s List candidates have been leading the charge every step of the way.

Wage Gap Persists, Women In Congress Working for Fairness. In 2011, US Census data showed that women earned only 77 cents for every dollar earned by a comparable male worker. The gap costs $10,849 per year in female median earnings and is even more substantial for women of color. African American women make 62 cents and Latinas make 53 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. The Lilly Ledbetter Act, a landmark policy for pay equity, passed thanks to the support of the 55 EMILY’s List Representatives who supported the legislation in a close House vote. [NWLC, 9/13/11; NWLC, 4/12/11]

Women Account for Nearly Half of the Labor Force. In 1900, there were 5.1 million working women in the United States, which accounted for 18 percent of the labor force. In 2009, there were 66.2 million working women, which accounted for 46.7 percent of the labor force. [National Committee for Pay Equity, 2010]

Women Earn More Post Secondary Degrees. Since 1982, women have earned more bachelor’s degrees than men. Since 1981, women have earned more master’s degrees than men. In 2008, women were projected to earn 59 percent of all post secondary degrees conferred that year. [National Committee for Pay Equity, 2010]

Closing the Wage Gap Would Do the Following:

• “Pay the median cost of rent and utilities for a year with over $1,100 to spare, or pay the median mortgage payment and utilities for an entire year”
• “Feed a household of four for a year with more than $2,100 to spare.”
• “Pay a year’s child care costs for a four-year old with over $3,700 to spare.”
• “Pay for three years of family health insurance premiums for an employer-sponsored health insurance program with over $400 to spare.”

[NWLC, 4/12/11]