Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), the first and only Latina in the U.S. Senate, is leading a resolution recognizing Latina Equal Pay Day.
More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Latinas make up the second-largest group of women workers in the U.S. But they are paid 57 cents for every dollar paid to white men, losing over $1,200,000 in potential earnings over a 40-year career. Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.-03) is introducing a companion resolution in the House of Representatives.
“Latinas play a critical role in our economy, and we deserve to be paid fairly for our work—it’s that simple,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to lead this effort and remain committed to closing the wage gap so Latinas have the opportunity to afford a home, start their own businesses, and retire with dignity. I will never stop fighting to protect Nevadans’ economic stability and defend our rights.”
The resolution was cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)., Bob Menendez (D-N.J), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Martin Henrich (D-N.M.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Illi.), Amy Klobuchar (D-M.N.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ron Ryden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.).
The resolution is also supported by organizations including Justice for Migrant Women, Greater Boston LCLAA (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement) Chapter, MomsRising, MANA, A National Latina Organization, Suma wealth and Acevedo Foundation, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Lopez-Wagner Strategies, National Partnership for Women & Families, She Votes Illinois, Gulf Coast LCLAA (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement), Mi Familia Vota, National Organization for Women, National Women’s Law Center, FLAP- Farmworker and landscaper Advocacy Project, ERA Coalition, Labor Council for Latina American Advancement (LCLAA), Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), National Council of Jewish Women, Poderistas, Restaurant Opportunities Centers United, American Association of University Women, Azul, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, The TransLatin@ Coalition, National Employment Law Project, MomUp, Esperanza United, U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Central American Resource Center, Equal Rights Advocates, National Network to End Domestic Violence, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Unstoppable Latina LLC, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW), National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Survivor Network (Cast), Hispanic Federation, AFL-CIO, Care In Action, AFT Latino Caucus , and Rhia Ventures.
The text of the resolution is available HERE.
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