Democratic Women’s Caucus Calls for Congress to Close the Wage Gap on Black Women’s Equal Pay Day

Washington, D.C. – Today Democratic Women’s Caucus members Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22) released the following statement after introducing a resolution recognizing Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, the day marking how long into 2024 a Black woman must work to make what the average white man was paid in 2023.

“I am immensely proud to lead the Resolution to mark Black Women’s Equal Pay Day on the House side,” said Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12). “My family lived this struggle: my mother was our primary breadwinner. She cleaned houses and saved up and pinched every penny so I could be the first person in my family to go to college. I can only imagine what she would have been able to accomplish had she been paid a fair wage. I see no reason why our daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters must face the same barriers, and that’s why I introduced this legislation with my colleagues today.”

“Today, on Black Women's Equal Pay Day, we acknowledge how Black women are disproportionately affected by the gender pay gap. Our commitment to ensuring fair and equal pay for Black women is a commitment to justice, equality, and the American ideal hard work should be acknowledged and rewarded," said Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12). "I am proud to cosponsor this resolution with Representatives Alma Adams and Lois Frankel, and pave the way for a future where equality in the workplace is a reality for all."

“Equal pay is a matter of fairness and justice and is essential for creating a more equitable and prosperous world,” said DWC Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22). “For generations, women have received unequal pay for equal work, and for Black women that disparity is even worse. It’s long past time Congress took the necessary steps to close the wage gap.”

More than sixty years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, Black women still only earn 69 cents for every dollar earned by white men. For a Black woman working full-time, year-round, the current wage gap represents a loss of nearly $884,800 over the course of her career. The wage gap impacts women’s ability to save for retirement, and hurts their Social Security and pension benefits, contributing to more older women living in poverty.

Today’s resolution raises awareness of the gender wage gap and its impact on Black women, families, and the nation while reaffirming Congress’ commitment to supporting equal pay for equal work.

The Democratic Women’s Caucus continues to call on Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), which would combat wage discrimination on the basis of sex and help close the gender wage gap. The bill requires pay differences to be related to only job-related factors, makes it unlawful to prohibit employees from discussing wages, and prohibits employers from soliciting salary history, among other important provisions. A summary of the bill is available here and the full text of the bill here.