CHC Chairwoman & First Vice Chair Mark Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

CHC Chairwoman & First Vice Chair Mark Anniversary of Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Washington, D.C. –  Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez and First Vice Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham marked the seventh anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The Act allows women to challenge pay discrimination in court.

Last October, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and the Joint Economic Committee released a report on the economic state of the Latino community.  According to the report:

·         There are over 27 million Latinas in the United States, including 18.6 million Latinas  who are 18 years or older.

·         Latinas account for 7 percent of the total workforce and 15 percent of the female workforce.

·         Latinas earn 55 cents for every dollar earned by a non-Hispanic white man.

Chairwoman Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38): “It’s 2016 and women are still paid less than their male counterparts. The pay gap is even worse for Latinas. At 55 cents to the dollar, Latinas are the lowest paid workers. Many Latinas work two to three jobs, but without equal pay, many still struggle financially. Paying all women fair wages would strengthen our economy.  On this anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, we are reminded that we must do so much more to close the pay gap.  In Congress, my Democratic colleagues and I are fighting for fair pay, paid sick leave, and an increase to the minimum wage. If we don’t close these gaps now, the message we are sending to young women is that the work they do is worth less than their male colleagues. As the daughter of a strong Latina, I know that’s simply not true.”

First Vice Chair Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-1): “Pay equity is a fairness issue, but it’s also much more than that. Hispanic women make significant financial contributions to family incomes, and just like other Americans, often face insurmountable childcare, education and healthcare costs.  We need to continue the fight to put women in a position to succeed, which will lead to a more dynamic economy that benefits our communities.”

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.