Payne, Jr. Statement on Equal Pay Day

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10) released the following statement on Equal Pay Day—the day that marks when women’s wages, on average, catch up to what men were paid in the previous year:

“As Americans, we believe that we are all created equal, and that we all have the same rights and protections. With a persistent pay gap between men and women, we fall short of that belief. Women deserve equal pay for equal work. We must keep our pledge of fairness and respect by ensuring that paycheck fairness is secured for all women.”

According to the National Women’s Law Center, women in New Jersey still earn only 80.4 cents for every dollar earned by men. Nationwide, women earn only 79 cents for every dollar earned by men.

Congressman Payne, Jr. is a proud cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help women finally achieve equal pay for equal work by strengthening and closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963.

Since 2013, House Republicans have voted nine times to block the Paycheck Fairness Act from being considered on the House Floor.

“House Democrats will continue to call on Republicans to stand up for the right of women to get equal pay for equal work,” added Congressman Payne, Jr.

In 2016, following a federal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by five U.S. women’s national team members accusing U.S. Soccer of wage discrimination, Congressman Payne, Jr. signed on to a letter expressing support for pay equity in every workplace.