(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) released the following statement in recognition of Equal Pay Day:
“Today we commemorate yet another Equal Pay Day – a date determined based on just how far the average woman has to work into the new year to earn what their male colleagues earned doing the same work in the previous year. Presently it takes the average woman 464 days to earn what a man makes in just 365 days.
“But today isn’t just about women. And it’s not just about fairness. It’s about the economy. And unfortunately, a recent study shows women in the Seattle area have it the hardest, suffering from the largest gender pay gap in the United States, meaning women have less money to put food on the table, stay in their homes, build a nest egg for retirement, and help pay for their children’s education.
“When women in Washington state are paid just 77 cents for every dollar paid to men, amounting to a loss of more than $12,000 each year, the time for change is long overdue. And it’s shameful we are still not yet at the point where our daughters can expect to earn the same amount over their lifetime as our sons.
“While I was so proud we passed the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, our work is far from over. This Congress, I have once again cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Fair Pay Act, to finally give working women and racial and ethnic minorities additional support and tools to fight for the equal pay they deserve. Because when women aren’t paid what they deserve—middle class families and communities pay the price.”
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