WASHINGTON, DC—Congressman Jim Himes (CT-4) released the following statement in recognition of Equal Pay Day.
“Equal Pay Day reminds us that women are still relatively underpaid for the important contributions they make to our society and economy. I am proud that my two young girls have many accomplished women role models, but struggle to explain to them why women are paid less than men for performing the same work. As a father, brother, and son, this issue is personal to me, and as a public official, I take seriously the impact this systemic discrimination has on the women I represent, their families, and the economy as a whole. While pay equity has starkly improved over the last three decades, there is still more to do to ensure women are treated fairly in the workplace, including access to equal pay and opportunity.”
Tuesday, April 12, 2011, is the national observance of Equal Pay Day. The date symbolizes how far into 2011 women must work to earn what men earned in 2010. Equal Pay Day was originated by the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1996 as a public awareness event to illustrate the gap between men's and women's wages.
Himes is a cosponsor of Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro’s Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced today in the House.