[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E763-E764]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               COMMEMORATING BLACK WOMEN'S EQUAL PAY DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 24, 2024

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, as we approach National Black 
Women's Equal Pay Day on July 27th, I wish to take a moment to 
recognize the valuable work that Black and African American women in 
the United States have done to make this country what it is today and 
to reaffirm the importance of paying them--and everyone fairly 
regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, or disability.
  Black women are an essential part of our Nation's fabric and 
workforce--hard workers who spur our Nation's economic growth despite 
experiencing barriers to equity and discrimination, which are 
compounded by the color of their skin as well as their gender.
  A primary goal of Black Women's Equal Pay Day is to raise awareness 
about the gender pay gap that limits the economic mobility of Black 
women. Goldman Sachs research as part of its Black Womenomics 
initiative makes clear the multiple ways Black women experience these 
economic gaps: the wage gap between Black and White women increased 
from

[[Page E764]]

10 percent in 2010 to 15 percent in 2019; Black women are less likely 
to have a bank account or to work full-time, salaried jobs; and Black 
women report living paycheck to paycheck and being burdened by medical 
debt and student loans relative to their income. Further, these wealth 
disparities are associated with health and well-being disparities, with 
Black women being more likely to experience poorer health and live 
shorter lives.
  The inequitable treatment of African American women in the workforce 
goes counter to the American values that make our country great. To 
continue pursuing equality for all, I joined my colleagues in 
cosponsoring the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill that addresses sex 
discrimination, limits hiring bias, and equips people--especially 
marginalized groups--with the tools to successfully negotiate their 
wages. I also am an original co-sponsor of House Concurrent Resolution 
97 that recognizes the importance of equal pay and sheds light on wage 
disparities between men and women.
  All workers in the richest nation on Earth should be paid fairly, and 
Black women deserve to receive their fair share of economic growth. I 
will continue to fight to create equitable pay opportunities for Black 
women and all workers. We must reject policies that keep Black women 
and other workers in a state of economic subservience.
  Together, we can commemorate Black Women's Equal Pay Day as evidence 
of our commitment to pursuing social justice that will one day lead to 
a more equal society.

                          ____________________