Recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity between wages paid to men and women.
H. Con. Res. 21 is a concurrent resolution in the 119th Congress that publicly recognizes the significance of equal pay and the ongoing disparity between wages paid to women and men. It cites existing federal anti-discrimination laws (the Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act) and presents extensive wage-gap statistics by race and ethnicity, age, and education. The measure notes Equal Pay Day dates and emphasizes the broader economic and social costs of pay inequity, including impacts on retirement security, student debt, and family well-being. It states Congress’s intent to reaffirm its commitment to equal pay and to support efforts aimed at narrowing the gender wage gap. As a concurrent resolution, it expresses a legislative sentiment rather than establishing new law or programs.
Key Points
- 1Legal framework acknowledged: The resolution references existing protections against pay discrimination under the Fair Labor Standards Act and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, reaffirming Congress’s support for those protections.
- 2Wage-gap data and Equal Pay Day: It highlights data showing women’s earnings as a fraction of men’s (varying by race/ethnicity) and identifies Equal Pay Day and related observances for different groups.
- 3Economic and familial impact: The bill emphasizes the broad costs of the wage gap, including lost wages over a lifetime, impact on retirement security, student loan burdens, and effects on families and economic growth.
- 4Contributing factors and scope: It notes factors such as occupational segregation, the higher prevalence of women in low-wage jobs, lack of family-friendly policies, pay secrecy, and harassment as factors contributing to the gap.
- 5Purpose and effect: The resolution states Congress’s recognition of the disparity and reaffirms its commitment to supporting equal pay and narrowing the wage gap; it serves as a symbolic expression of values and a call to action for policymakers, employers, and the public.