FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 8, 2022
(202)-538-2836
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44) joined Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03) to introduce the Latina Equal Pay Day Resolution.
“Pay disparities experienced by women, and especially Latinas and other women of color, show that the contributions we make to society are consistently undervalued,” said Congresswoman Barragán. “For many families in our Latino communities, Latinas are either the sole or main economic provider in the household. It takes several additional months for a Latina woman to make the equivalent of a white man – this harms the economic stability of our households and communities. I am proud to lead on this resolution that reaffirms Congress’ commitment to closing the pay gap. ¡Ha llegado el momento de que las latinas reciban igualdad de salarios!”
More than 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women of color in particular have continued to be undervalued and underpaid in the workplace. On average, Latina women earn 54 cents for every dollar earned by white, non-Hispanic men. The resolution recognizes December 8th, 2022 as Latina Equal Pay Day, calling attention to the disparities in wages paid to Latinas and the resulting overall impact on women, families, and the economy. Importantly, it also reaffirms Congress’ support for realizing equal pay and closing the gender and racial wage gap.
“Mis hermanas, Senator Cortez Masto y Congresswoman Barragán, y yo, decidimos que ya basta, so we introduced the Latina Equal Pay Resolution to recognize the disparities, unequal, and unfair treatment of women, especially Latinas, who are undervalued and underpaid,” said Leger Fernández. “We need to acknowledge that Latinas play a huge role in our economy, especially our care economy, and recommit to closing the gender and racial wage gap. Latinas deserve equal pay NOW.”
The resolution is co-sponsored by 40 Members of Congress and endorsed by:
- 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
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Nanette Diaz Barragán is proud to represent California’s 44th Congressional District, which includes the communities of Carson, Compton, Florence-Firestone, Lynwood, North Long Beach, Rancho Dominguez, San Pedro, South Gate, Walnut Park, Watts, Willowbrook and Wilmington. She serves as chairwoman of the House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Border Security, and on the House Energy and Commerce Health, Energy, and Environment & Climate Change Subcommittees.