Lucas,
Even in 2014, this statement is still somehow true: Women earn less than men for the same work. This week marks the fifth anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and our moment to ensure women are fairly compensated.
It is inexplicable that women make only 77 cents on the dollar compared to men. For women of color, it is even worse – African American women earn 69 cents on the dollar, and Latinas earn just 58 cents. This is the case even when all other factors are equal, including work experience and education.
With more dual-income households than ever before and women who are sole breadwinners at an all-time high, shortchanging women holds back not only their families but also the American economy.
Join with me, Sens. Jeanne Shaheen, Kay Hagan and Amy Klobuchar and EMILY's List to put this discrimination behind us.
I love what Lilly Ledbetter herself said: "The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is just the first of many tools women need."
We need to end wage discrimination, but we also need to accomplish the other pillars of my Opportunity Plan: increasing the minimum wage, passing paid family and medical leave, expanding universal pre-K to all families and making sure women have access to quality, affordable child care.
We can get there. I believe it. But we have to take this first step now, and I need you to make Washington hear your voice.
Please, at this moment, tell Congress to make sure women are paid accurately and fairly.
Thank you so much. We can do this,
Kirsten [Gillibrand]