Dear Friend,
In today’s tough economy, many of Iowa’s working families are still pinching every penny just to make ends meet, and in many families with children, both parents work to put food on the table. That is why I strongly believe that equal pay is neither a women’s issue nor a men’s issue, but a family issue. We must fight to make sure that our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends receive equal pay for the same work as their male counterparts.
In the 53 years since the Equal Pay Act was first signed into law, substantial steps have been made in addressing the wage gap between men and women, but more must be done. I was proud to help introduce the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which restored a women’s right to challenge unfair pay. This legislation was signed into law by the President in January 2009. I am also a cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act that would help working families by updating the Equal Pay Act of 1963.
We cannot wait another 50 years to close the wage gap. It is time we pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and make equal pay a reality.
Feel free to share this email with your friends and family as a reminder of how far we have come and how far we still have left to go.
Sincerely,
Dave LoebsackIowa's Second District
Editor's Note: coverage on NPR gave some insight as to why a pay descrepancy exists, and why its often by choice. See Claudia Goldin's remarks.
