Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (AL-07) released the following statement regarding Equal Pay Day, which marks the day when women’s earnings from the previous year finally equal what a man earned in the last year alone.

“On this Equal Pay Day, we must remind ourselves that even though we have made great strides in gender equality, there is still much work to do. Nearly 50 years ago, President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act in recognition that women should earn what they deserve and nothing less. Yet today, women still earn on average just 77 cents for every dollar that a man makes. The wage disparity is even more pronounced for minority women as African American women earn just 64 cents for every dollar earned by white males and Hispanic women earn just 55 cents per dollar. The wage gap is not a gender issue or a political issue, but an economic issue that affects the lives of all of our families and our communities.

Women deserve equal pay for equal work. And we must continue to fight discrimination anywhere it exists and do more to level the playing field so all Americans can provide for their families. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act of 2013 that will offer protections for hardworking Americans and help us break through the glass ceiling. I look forward to continue working with my colleagues in Congress to help pass this legislation.”

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Contact: Rob NeSmith;         rob.nesmith@mail.house.gov;        202.225.2665