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Meng Marks Equal Pay Day

April 11, 2014
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Queens) this afternoon marked Equal Pay Day by calling on Congress to close the wage gap that continues to exist between women and men.
“Women in America earn only 77 cents for every dollar earned by men,” said Meng.” This is unacceptable and must change. With females making up about half of the workforce, it well past time for women to receive equal pay for equal work. When women succeed, America succeeds.”
Equal Pay Day marks how far into the year women must work in order to catch up to the pay that their male counterparts earned in the previous year. It is observed today – and each year – in New York and across the nation.

According to a report from the American Association of University Women, median earnings in Meng’s district are $50,494 for men compared to $45,499 — an earnings ratio of 90 percent.
Throughout New York, the pay gap is an average of $51,274 for men compared $43,000 for women — an earnings ratio of 84 percent.
In addition to calling for women to be paid the same as their male peers, Meng marked Equal Pay day by taking part in a press conference on Capitol Hill with Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and numerous female House Democrats. She also called for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act which would strengthen and close loopholes in the 1963 Equal Pay Act. The measure would make it easier for woman to take home their fair share of wages.
Meng pushed legislation similar to the Equal Pay Act when she served in the New York State Legislature. She championed a bill to establish a state policy of equal pay for comparable work regardless of sex, race or national origin. The measure passed the state Assembly.
Attached are photos of Meng at the press conference. To see video of her speaking, go to the 20:52 mark at https://goo.gl/rdLJ8z .