Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Forty-five years ago today, President John Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act and called it the first step in addressing “the unconscionable practice of paying female employees less wages than male employees for the same job.”  At that time, women earned 59 cents for each dollar earned by a man.  Over the last four and a half decades, the wage gap between men and women has narrowed somewhat to 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. 

“The wage gap is one of the most pressing issues facing families, the economy and women workers, in particular,” Congressman Donald M. Payne said.  “Unfair pay affects women whether they are business executives or retail salespeople.  It’s a virus in the workplace that strikes women regardless of education, occupation, race or age.”

“Although there has been progress on closing the wage gap between men and women, it has been too slow,” Payne said.  “Between 1963 and now, the wage gap has narrowed by less than half a cent per year.  At this rate, it would take about another 50 years before men and women reach parity in pay.”

“Women should not have to wait that long,” Payne stated.  “That is why I have cosponsored H.R. 1338, the Paycheck Fairness Act.” 

The Paycheck Fairness Act builds on the progress of the Equal Pay Act and works to end the persistent gap in the earnings of men and women.  It strengthens the Equal Pay Act by providing more effective remedies to women who are not being paid equal wages for doing equal work.  The bill would also prohibit employers from retaliating against employees who share salary information with their co-workers. 

“This is not a women’s issue – it’s a family issue,” Payne pointed out.  “Women are often providing a significant share of their family’s income, and in many cases they are the sole wage earner.  I join with many other Members of Congress in strong support of the Paycheck Fairness Act – which I hope will be acted upon by the House of Representatives soon.”