| Washington, D.C. - Today, Equal Pay Day, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson emphasized the importance of eliminating the pay disparity between working men and women in the United States.
"Thirty-five years have passed since President John F. Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law," Congresswoman Johnson said. "And yet, in many cases, there is still not equal pay for equal work in this country."
In 1963, when the Equal Pay Act was signed, women who worked full-time, year-round made 59 cents on average for every dollar earned by men. In 2006, women earned 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. That is progress – but it is slow progress. It means that the wage gap has narrowed by less than half a cent per year.
Last year, Congresswoman Johnson introduced the Gender Bias Elimination Act (H.R. 3514), which would increase awareness of gender bias at the university faculty level and encourage federal research agencies to adopt female-friendly policies.
"Because of gender bias in the workplace, women are paid less than men and receive less professional support," Congresswoman Johnson said. "Our country can no longer afford such outmoded prejudices. They waste our human capital at a time when we need it the most."
"Furthermore, ensuring that women receive equal pay for equal work is a common-sense issue that affects all working women and their families," Congresswoman Johnson continued. "By eradicating unfair treatment in the labor market, we can help families gain the resources they need to ensure that their children have access to a better future in the 21st century."
Equal Pay Day is observed in April each year. It marks the time of year in which the wages paid to American women "catch up" to the wages paid to men from the previous year. In other words, because the average woman earns less, she must work longer for the same amount of pay.
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