On Equal Pay Day, Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing Paycheck Fairness Act

On Equal Pay Day, Senator Hassan Joins Colleagues in Reintroducing Paycheck Fairness Act

WASHINGTON - In recognition of Equal Pay Day, Senator Maggie Hassan today joined Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) and Congresswoman Rosa Delauro (D-CT) in reintroducing the Paycheck Fairness Act.

The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963, guaranteeing that women can challenge wage discrimination and hold employers accountable. Despite making up half of the workforce in the country, women still make only 80 cents, on average, for every dollar earned by a man. The gap widens for women of color: African-American women only earn 63 cents on the dollar and Hispanic only earn 54 cents, on average, compared to white men.

"It's long past time for women to earn an equal day's pay for an equal day's work," Senator Hassan said. "Wage discrimination is unacceptable and it strains the financial security of thousands of Granite State families and threatens our economic well-being in New Hampshire. I am proud to reintroduce the Paycheck Fairness Act to help ensure that all hard-working Granite Staters and Americans can earn a fair pay check and have the opportunity to get ahead and stay ahead."

The Paycheck Fairness Act would strengthen and close loopholes in the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by holding employers accountable for discriminatory practices, ending the practice of pay secrecy, easing workers' ability to individually or jointly challenge pay discrimination, and strengthening the available remedies for wronged employees.

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