Larson Statement in Support of Equal Pay Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 20, 2010
CONTACT: Emily Barocas/202-225-7295

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman John B. Larson (CT-01), Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, released the following statement in honor of Equal Pay Day.

"Today, on Equal Pay Day, I stand with every American worker who has been the victim of pay discrimination.  All Americans are working harder than ever to make ends meet. As we continue to rebuild our economy and get middle class Americans back to work, we need to guarantee that equal work means equal pay and reaffirm our value of a fair reward for a hard day’s work.

"That’s why one of the first bills passed by this Congress and signed into law by President Obama was the Lilly Ledbetter Act. That law gives workers who have been the victim of wage discrimination a fair chance to recoup lost back pay.

"Unfortunately, wage discrimination still exists. Women are too-often short-changed - receiving 80 cents compared to the dollar men are paid for the same work. I encourage the Senate to take up and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation passed by the House that will make it harder for employers to discriminate against female employees.”