[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 65 (Monday, April 6, 1998)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 16875-16876]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-9172]



[[Page 16873]]

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Part II





The President





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Proclamation 7077--National Equal Pay Day, 1998
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  Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 65 / Monday, April 6, 1998 / 
Presidential Documents  

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 Title 3--
 The President

[[Page 16875]]

                Proclamation 7077 of April 2, 1998

                
National Equal Pay Day, 1998

                By the President of the United States of America

                A Proclamation

                Americans have always believed in the value of work and 
                that, if you work hard, you should be able to provide 
                for yourself and your family with dignity. Today, with 
                more jobs, low unemployment, and real wages rising, 
                America's workers are prospering. Yet, there are many 
                women in the workforce whose work is not being fully 
                valued.

                This year, National Equal Pay Day falls on April 3, the 
                day on which the typical woman's 1998 earnings, when 
                added to her 1997 wages, will finally equal what the 
                typical man earned in 1997 alone. In other words, the 
                typical woman who works full-time earns just 74 cents 
                for each dollar that the typical man earns. For women 
                of color, the wage gap is even wider--African American 
                women earn only 63 cents for each dollar earned by 
                white men, and Hispanic women earn only 53 cents. While 
                women now hold almost half of all executive and 
                managerial jobs, their wages are only 70 percent of the 
                average pay of their male counterparts. And, according 
                to the Department of Labor's Glass Ceiling Commission 
                report, women in management jobs generally remain at 
                entry-level and mid-level positions. In part, these 
                differences in treatment exist because of differing 
                levels of experience, education, and skill. But study 
                after study shows that, even after legitimate 
                differences are accounted for, a significant pay gap 
                still persists between men and women in similar jobs.

                Equal pay not only treats women fairly, it benefits us 
                all--particularly our Nation's families. It empowers 
                women to become more self-sufficient, reducing the 
                dependence of many families on government assistance. 
                It also raises women's purchasing power, increases 
                their pensions, and improves their capacity to save, 
                all of which help to strengthen our economy.

                During the past three decades, our Nation has made a 
                strong commitment to ensuring that every American is 
                treated with dignity and equality in the workplace. 
                Legislation such as the Equal Pay Act and Title VII of 
                the Civil Rights Act has helped us make progress in 
                correcting discriminatory practices. But we still have 
                a long way to go before the wage gap between men and 
                women is eliminated. This year, I proposed an 
                additional $43 million for the Equal Employment 
                Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Department of 
                Labor in order to strengthen enforcement of the laws 
                that prohibit discrimination, including wage 
                discrimination; to encourage mediation; and to help the 
                EEOC reduce the average time it takes to resolve 
                private sector complaints. This additional funding will 
                help all victims of discrimination, including wage 
                discrimination, obtain relief in a more timely manner. 
                And the Women's Bureau at the Department of Labor will 
                continue to make resources available through the Fair 
                Pay Clearinghouse to highlight model pay practices and 
                educate employers about the practical benefits of 
                assuring equal pay for their employees.

                As we observe National Equal Pay Day, I urge businesses 
                and State and local governments across our Nation to 
                make a solemn commitment to recognize the value of 
                women's contributions to the workplace and to reward 
                them appropriately. By doing so, we will help provide 
                opportunity and promote equality and justice for all.

[[Page 16876]]

                NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM J. CLINTON, President of the 
                United States of America, by virtue of the authority 
                vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United 
                States of America, do hereby proclaim April 3, 1998, as 
                National Equal Pay Day. I call upon Government 
                officials, law enforcement agencies, business leaders, 
                educators, and the American people to recognize the 
                full value of the skills and contributions of women in 
                the labor force. I urge all employers to review their 
                wage practices and to ensure that all their employees, 
                including women, are paid equitably for their work.

                IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 
                second day of April, in the year of our Lord nineteen 
                hundred and ninety-eight, and of the Independence of 
                the United States of America the two hundred and 
                twenty-second.

                    (Presidential Sig.)

1[FR Doc. 98-9172
Filed 4-3-98; 8:45 am]
Billing code 3195-01-P