Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) introduced a Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution to recognize the disparity in wages paid to Latinas, the significance of equal pay, and its larger impact on women, families, and the economy. The resolution was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.-03) and Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-Calif.-44).
“Latinas have helped build this country, and their contributions should be reflected in their pay,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “As the first and only Latina in the United State Senate, I will always advocate for equal pay for equal work and am proud to lead this resolution.”
On Latina Equal Pay Day, we recognize the wage gap that Latina women face on average to finally earn what white men were paid in the previous calendar year. More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, Latina women on average earn only 54 cents for every dollar paid to white non-Hispanic men.
The resolution was cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
The resolution is also supported by organizations including Justice for Migrant Women, Equal Rights Advocates, Columbus Women’s Commission, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF), Center for Advancement of Public Policy, GreenLatinos, Michigan Pay Equity Network (P.E.N.), Advancing Latinas into Leadership, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, Philadelphia Coalition of Labor Union Women, PowHer New York, National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives (NAHFE), United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, National Hispanic Medical Association, Esperanza United (Casa de Esperanza: National Latin@ Network), Women’s Law Project, Better Life Lab at New America, SER-Jobs for Progress National Inc., United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, Hispanic Federation, Michigan Pay Equity Network (P.E.N.), American GI Forum of the US, A Better Balance, American Association of University Women, National Hispanic Media Coalition, Mi Familia Vota, Farmworker Justice, UnidosUS, MANA, A National Latina Organization, NALEO Educational Fund, Family Values @ Work, MALDEF (Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund), National Advocacy Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, U.S. Provinces, Institute for Women’s Policy Research, Legal Momentum, The Women’s Legal Defense and Education Fund, The Women’s Economic Institute, Inc, National Committee on Pay Equity, AnitaB.org, National Council of Jewish Women, National Women’s Law Center, SHPE (Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers), National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators, Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project, National Partnership for Women & Families, National Employment Law Project, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), Methodist Federation for Social Action, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), LatinoJustice PRLDEF, YWCA USA, William C. Velasquez Institute, Southwest Voter Registration Education Project.
The text of the resolution is available here.
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