New York, NY – As the nation marked Equal Pay Day, Congressman Charles B. Rangel said the wage gap between men and women in America is unacceptable, and urged Congress to do more to close it.

"It is unfair that women earn 77 cents for every dollar earned by men," said Rangel.  "This inequity is detrimental to families that rely on women's wages to pay the bills and put food on the table.  In the past 30 years, more and more women have assumed the role of primary breadwinner for their families, and the pay gap makes this family dynamic unsustainable."

Achieving equal pay for women has been one of the top priorities of Democrats.  In January 2009, the Democratic-led 111th Congress sent to the President’s desk the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act – and it became the first bill signed into law by President Barack Obama.  This Act, a great victory for women, restores the right of women to challenge unfair pay in court – but virtually all House Republicans rejected this critical measure for women.

"The Lilly Ledbetter Act represents an important step toward closing the wage gap in America," Rangel said.  "But it is only a start.  I am also fighting to enact the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would provide a much-needed update to the 49-year-old Equal Pay Act.  This Act gives women a way to fight back against not being paid equal wages for equal work. Meanwhile Republicans have made it clear that they oppose women standing up for their right to fair pay."

This year, Equal Pay Day falls on Tax Day.  In addition to demanding equal pay for women, Democrats are also calling for basic fairness in the tax code.  That is why this week Democrats fought to enact the “Buffett Rule,” which ensures that no household making over $1 million annually pays a smaller share of their income in taxes than an average American family pays.

“On this Equal Pay Day 2012, let us all work together to create an America where women receive equal pay for equal work, and everyone pays their fair share,” added Rangel.