Grayson Marks Equal Pay Day with Legislation to Address Gender Wage Gap
Republicans Demonstrate Opposition to Pay Equality by Blocking Vote
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Equal Pay Day marks the date when the average woman’s wage finally catches up to the average men’s wage made in the previous year. Nationally, women earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men. The National Women’s Law Center notes that the wage gap for women of color is even greater in Florida. For every dollar earned by a white male, Hispanic women earn a measly 58.3 cents, while African American women earn only 61.8 cents. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, Florida women, who are employed full-time, will lose a combined $17.3 billion annually as a result of the wage gap.
“The wage gap is something that should concern us all,” Grayson noted. “When women are shortchanged in their wages, they have less money to spend sustaining our economy. Today, nearly half of all workers in our economy are women. Forty percent of working women are now the primary breadwinners in their families. Our country’s economic success depends upon the economic security of women.”
Yesterday, Grayson proposed an amendment to the Republicans Budget to address the issue of equal pay. The Republican budget will be voted on this week, but the Republican-controlled Rules Committee blocked the amendment from receiving a vote on the House Floor. “It is the policy of this Congress that the existing gender pay gap is unacceptable,” Grayson’s amendment stated. “Every item in this budget shall be construed in a manner that will actively seek to promote equal pay between men and women.” Additionally, Grayson is a co-sponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 377), which closes loopholes that allow pay discrimination.
Grayson’s efforts to address pay equality also include his bill (H.R. 1346) to raise the minimum wage to $10.50 per hour, and tie future increases to inflation. “Women account for more than half of our country’s minimum wage workers,” said Grayson. “In Florida, approximately 6 in 10 workers making the minimum wage are women. No person working forty hours a week should be living below the poverty line, but that’s the reality that many women face. Increasing the minimum wage would provide a much-needed raise formillions of American women.”
Congressman Alan Grayson represents Florida’s 9th Congressional District, which includes Osceola County, as well as parts of Orange and Polk counties. He previously served as the U.S. Representative for Florida's 8th Congressional District in the 111th Congress.