Today, Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) released the following statement to mark ‘Equal Pay Day,’ the date when women’s wages catch up to what men were paid in the previous year. Nationwide, according to the American Association of University Women, women earn only 79 cents to each dollar earned by their male counterparts, and in the 52nd District women earn just 82 cents for every dollar earned by men.

“I’m married to a strong woman, am raising one, and have hired many,” Rep. Peters said. “As families across San Diego increasingly rely on women’s wages to pay bills, educate their children, and save for retirement, they cannot afford for women to make only 82 cents to every dollar a male colleague does. Women should be paid the same wages for doing the same work as their male counterparts.

“I am a proud supporter of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would help end gender discrimination in pay by making wage data more accessible, empowering women to negotiate for equal pay, and strengthening enforcement. Closing the wage gap is a key part of expanding economic and educational opportunity for women and girls. Our country cannot be successful if women are not getting the equal pay they deserve and have earned. ”