Take Action on the Equal Pay Act’s 50th Anniversary

Women's Leadership Network — June 10, 2013 – 2:28 pm | Women's Issues Comments (0) Add a comment

Today is the 50^th anniversary of the Equal Pay Act. President Kennedy signed this law in order to ensure that women would be able to make the same amount for the same job as men. However, 50 years later women are still fighting to earn equal pay for equal work.

Right now, women earn 77 cents for every dollar that men make. The pay disparity is even more for minority women with African-American women making 64 cents and Hispanic women only 54 cents.

In January, Senator Barbara Mikulski introduced the “Paycheck Fairness Act” and so far has 46 co-sponsors including Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Ten days ago, the Senate failed to pass the bill.

Despite the setback, the fight is not over—and President Barack Obama is firmly with us. The President declared today, “This is the 21st century. It’s time to close that gap”.

Help make President Obama’s declaration a reality—call your Senators and Representative today and urge them to support equal pay legislation. 

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