Rep. Leger Fernández Introduces Resolution Recognizing Latina Equal Pay Day

Press Release

WASHINGTON -- Today, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) and Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) introduced the Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution to acknowledge the disparity in wages paid to Latinas and its larger impact on women, families, and the economy.

"Fifty-eight years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act, women, especially women of color, continue to be undervalued and underpaid for equal work. This disparity has grown worse during the pandemic and she-cession, especially given the lack of affordable child care available for our communities," said Leger Fernández "This resolution acknowledges the impact the lack of equal pay has on women, families, and our nation as a whole. More importantly, it reaffirms Congress' support for ensuring equal pay and closing the gender and racial wage gap. Latina workers deserve our support. The House has taken action to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure that this is the last Latina Equal Pay Day - the Senate should do the same."

The resolution is co-sponsored by over 80 members, including Reps. Raul Ruiz (CA-36), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY-14), Nydia Velazquez (NY-7), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-4), Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Alma Adams (NC-12), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Ritchie Torres (NY-15), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), and Barbara Lee (CA-13).

The resolution is supported by over 50 organizations, including Justice for Migrant Women, Coalition of Labor Union Women, AFL-CIO, National Network to End Domestic Violence, Equal Pay Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), UnidosUS, Campesinos Sin Fronteras, and National Domestic Workers Alliance.

"We knew long before the pandemic that the pay gap was having a devastating impact on Latinas and our families. The pandemic only put a much finer point on this and increased the urgent need for Congress to act to close this gap" said Mónica Ramírez, President of Justice for Migrant Women and an organizer of the National Latina Equal Pay Day of Action. "An already dismal situation became acute when the Latina unemployment peaked at over 20 percent and many Latinas across income levels struggled to make ends meet. One of the most consequential things Congress can do to help close the Latina wage gap is to enact the Build Back Better bill with robust investments in women to provide Latinas with paid leave, affordable child care, wage increases for those who are caregivers, and protections for immigrants. This resolution is a step towards ensuring that Congress acknowledges this disparity and recommits to the work ahead to finally ensure equal pay for Latinas."

Today marks the day that Latinas, on average, finally earn what white, non-Hispanic men were paid in 2020. More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Latinas typically earn only 57 cents for every dollar earned by white men.

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