WASHINGTON – Today on the House floor, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Co-Founder of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force, slammed Republicans for blocking multiple Democratic-led proposals to fund key agencies like TSA and FEMA, and shed light on a targeted proposal in Project 2025 to privatize TSA and strip TSA workers of their right to unionize.
A transcript of the Congresswoman’s remarks is available below, and the video is available here.
Transcript: Pressley Slams GOP for Denying TSA Workers Pay, Highlights Project 2025 Plot to Privatize, De-Unionize TSA
U.S. House of Representatives
March 26, 2026
Mr. Speaker,
I rise today on behalf of our dedicated TSA workers—workers throughout the country, including in the Massachusetts 7th who take pride in their essential work and they call Boston Logan International Airport their employer.
They have gone 40 days without pay for their essential work.
The Trump administration does not care about protecting our workers or serving the travelling public.
This is all a ploy for power and pushing an inhumane agenda against our immigrant neighbors.
Now, let’s go back to Project 2025.
I was a co-founder of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force here in the House.
Project 2025 proposed privatizing TSA screening, shifting airport workers away from the government and its protections and into the hands of private contractors. It called for the de-unionizing of TSA workers immediately.
What we see unfolding right now—this is not a contingency plan. It was always the plan.
And to bring in ICE agents, who continue to be paid, as if they will be able to step in for these highly trained, dedicated, and still unpaid TSA workers is not a solution.
Mr. Speaker, these are the lives and livelihoods of our neighbors, who are strained by missing paychecks and an inability to put food on the table.
Democrats have put forward multiple proposals to keep key agencies such as TSA and FEMA funded, while not giving another cent to ICE.
Republicans have refused each and every time. The cruelty is truly the point.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ted Lieu (33 District of California)
Dear neighbor,
American consumers are being hurt by rising inflation, rising gas prices, and diesel prices topping $5 for only the second time in U.S. history. This week, however, Trump’s Director of the National Economic Council, Kevin Hassett, said that hurting consumers is “the last of our concerns.” Trump’s decisions over the past year have already hurt everyday Americans and will continue to do so. Even before the war in Iran, the economy was on shaky ground. The labor market was weak, businesses and workers were facing uncertainty from tariffs and AI, and employers cut 92,000 jobs last month. Groceries and household essentials remained too expensive, and healthcare costs were rising after Republicans cut ACA tax credits and Medicaid funding to help pay for tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Inflation has also increased this year, with PPI rising to 3.4% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now, those challenges remain, and the country is also dealing with the fallout of an unconstitutional war with no clear strategy in place. Many parts of California are experiencing gas prices well over $5. Meanwhile, the stock market has fallen, and mortgage rates have risen as the bond market reacts to the uncertainty surrounding this war.
I talked about this and more during the Democratic Caucus’ weekly press conference.
Last week, it was my pleasure to hear from so many constituents during my telephone town hall. We discussed a wide range of local and national issues affecting families across California’s 36th District. I heard from many constituents concerned about the integrity of our upcoming elections. I share those concerns. Democrats are working closely with civil society organizations, nonprofits, civil rights groups, and state attorneys general to prepare legal strategies, coordinate lawyers and election observers, and respond to potential threats. We are also actively opposing the SAVE Act, which would make it much harder for many Americans to vote, especially those without passports or birth certificates, including married women whose legal names no longer match their birth records. These are perilous times, and the strength of our democracy depends on the participation and vigilance of the people. Democrats in Congress will continue doing everything possible to defend our democratic institutions. Ultimately it will be the American people who determine the direction of the country by speaking out and participating in the democratic process in the coming months. We covered many other issues during the town hall. If you would like to hear the full conversation, you can listen to the recording here. Forums like these give me the opportunity to hear directly from constituents, and I am always grateful to represent such an engaged and thoughtful community.
LA COUNTY FOOD RESOURCES: The LA County Office of Food Systems has resources to learn more about the LA County food system and a dashboard to find more information on efforts to promote access to food across the county. Visit here formore.
BY LA FOR LA: LA County has put together a network of people to help with substance use and overdose prevention, mental health, and housing/food assistance. Check out the resource page here.
CONGRESSIONAL ART COMPETITION: High school students are encouraged to participate in this year’s Congressional Art Competition. Submissions are now open until Friday, March 6, 2026, at 5 PM PT. For more information, visit here.
YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL APPLICATIONS: Students in 9th-12th grade can now apply to join our district’s 2026-2027 Youth Advisory Council. This is an opportunity to work directly with my office to collaborate on key issues for young people. Applications are now open until Friday, June 26, 2026, at 5:00 PM PT. Visit here for more information.
SUMMER INTERNSHIPS: My Los Angeles and Washington offices are now accepting applications for our Summer 2026 Internship Program. You can find out how to apply here.
My Los Angeles office is available to help with federal agency issues at (323) 651-1040, or you can visit our webpagehere.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Robin Kelly IL
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly (IL-02) released the following statement after voting against a bill that does not rein in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs and Border Protection:
“For the third time, Speaker Johnson has prolonged a Department of Homeland Security shutdown instead of meeting with Democrats to pass a funding bill that would pay TSA and FEMA. President Trump has doubled down on his demands to attach a voter suppression bill to DHS funding in an obvious attempt to cheat our election system. He’s sent paid ICE agents to loiter at airports, while unpaid TSA workers handle hours-long security lines. These are not the actions of a President who cares for the people, but rather the actions of a man desperate to cling to power. I will not give another dime to ICE or CBP that terrorize our communities. I refuse to submit to Republicans who bend the knee to this President.”
Rep. Kelly signed the discharge petition to force a vote on a bill that would fund DHS, except for ICE and CBP, introduced by U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (CT-03).
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Jim McGovern (D-MA)
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), alongside Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), and Emilia Sykes (D-OH), led a bipartisan letter urging Congressional appropriators to provide essential funding to make healthy food and good nutrition a core pillar of America’s healthcare system as part of the FY 2027 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill.
In the letter to Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), the bipartisan coalition emphasized the urgent need to address diet-related disease and rising healthcare costs through “Food is Medicine” initiatives.
“Good nutrition is fundamental for restoring and maintaining health,” the lawmakers wrote, noting that poor diets have “strong ties to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gut health, mental health, cancer, and more.”
The lawmakers’ request for federal funding and an enhanced focus on better nutrition comes amid an ongoing surge in the cost of treating diet-related diseases—an increase which is crushing healthcare systems, federal and state budgets, and private employers. Notably, the combined healthcare spending and lost productivity from poor diets and food insecurity are estimated to exceed $1.1 trillion each year, emphasizing the immediate need for congressional action.
“Further action must be taken to support food is medicine efforts,” the lawmakers concluded. “We have it in our power to save lives, improve nutrition, and lower health care costs by directing more federal resources toward better integrating nutrition into our healthcare system.”
Specifically, the bipartisan coalition is requesting targeted investments to expand research on food is medicine at NIH, additional funding for HHS to bolster ongoing food is medicine work and expand access to medically tailored meals and produce prescriptions, enhanced nutrition support through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, and continued efforts to address maternal health by helping clinics provide nutrition services to at-risk mothers.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Aumua Amata (Western Samoa)
Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Uifa’atali Amata on Wednesday presided for part of a legislative hearing that examined 12 new Veterans’ bills, the first step in their legislative process through the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) following introduction. Note this group of bills is separate from the 27 bills examinedon March 18 by the full Committee, where Aumua Amata serves as Vice Chairman.
Congresswoman Amata presiding over Veterans’ legislative hearing on Wednesday
The HVAC Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigationsis led by Chairwoman Jen Kiggans (R-Virginia), who presided for the first portion of the hearing, then Congresswoman Amata held the center chair for part of the hearing.
“I’m pleased we have plentiful Veterans legislation to continue working on and send the best of these bills forward to the full House of Representatives for votes,” said Congresswoman Amata. “Many of these bills address specific service needs or VA reforms resulting from listening to Veterans constantly in testimony, roundtables, and meetings. I will continue to provide updates from Washington.”
The hearing provided the first examination of the following legislation:
H.R. 7280, the Veteran DATA Act
H.R. 6654, the Veterans Affairs Management and Oversight of Software Assets Act
H.R. 7319, the VA Bonus and Relocation Recovery Act
H.R. 7683, the VA Fiscal Management Modernization Act
Discussion Draft, the Vets CLEAR Act
Discussion Draft, the Veterans Affairs Subcontractor Competition and Opportunity Network Act
Discussion Draft, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require that certain sterile processing technicians of the Veterans Health Administration hold appropriate professional certifications, and for other purposes
Discussion Draft, to amend title 38, United States Code, to modify the rate of pay for care or services provided under the Community Care Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs based on the location at which such care or services were provided, and for other purposes
Discussion Draft, to establish an entitlement to a supplemental period of unpaid parental leave for employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Discussion Draft, to deem certain individuals as parents of Department of Veterans Affairs employees for purposes of determining entitlement to certain family and medical leave for such employees
Discussion Draft, to prohibit the downgrading of law enforcement positions in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes
Discussion Draft, to amend Title 38, United States Code, to establish the Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.
Subcommittee Chairwoman Kiggans statedthat the hearing examined “12 bills covering a wide range of issues, all aimed at strengthening accountability, improving care, and ensuring VA delivers on its commitments to those who served. These bills address critical areas including oversight of VA operations, protection of veterans’ data, workforce retention and accountability, small business opportunity, payment reform, and improvements to the quality and safety of healthcare veterans receive every day.”
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Rick Larsen (2nd Congressional District Washington)
Today, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02) released the following statement:
“Coasties keep our waterways safe, TSA agents protect the traveling public, CISA experts protect our country from cyber threats, DHS agents fight child and drug trafficking and FEMA staff respond to natural disasters like the December floods in my district and help World Cup host cities like Seattle prepare for the tournament this summer.
“These public servants deserve to get paid for their work immediately. I continue to demand reforms to ensure ICE is held to the same standards as every other state and local law enforcement agency.”
Rep. Larsen is cosponsoring legislation to fully fund FEMA, the U.S. Coast Guard, TSA and every other agency within DHS except ICE, CBP and the Office of the DHS Secretary. He is the top Democrat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which has jurisdiction over FEMA and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Rep. Larsen supports negotiating a full-year funding bill for ICE, CBP and the office of the DHS Secretary that creates accountability and oversight of ICE operations and DHS detention facilities.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Gregory W Meeks (5th District of New York)
Washington, D.C.– Representatives Gregory W. Meeks, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Young Kim and Ami Bera, Chairwoman and Ranking Member of the East Asia and Pacific Subcommittee; and Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Ranking Member of the South and Central Asia Subcommittee, sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in light of the Department’s review of U.S. policy toward Burma. The Members provided findings meant to inform the administration’s review, and bipartisan recommendations to sustain a principled and effective policy toward Burma.
A PDF copy of the full letter can be found here. An excerpt is below.
“As the Trump administration and the Department of State undertake a review of U.S. policy towards Burma, we write to share bipartisan congressional priorities to shape and inform the review. Through bipartisan legislation signed into law – such as the Burma Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, the Tom Lantos Block Burmese JADE Act of 2008, and the Burma Unified Through Rigorous Military Accountability (BURMA) Act of 2022 – Congress has partnered with past administrations to ensure that our Burma policy advances U.S. values and interests. With Burma embroiled in violence five years after the military coup, and nearly a decade since the Rohingya genocide, it is important that the administration adhere to longstanding, bipartisan principles and stand with the Burmese people against the junta’s violence and repression.”
The recommendations from the Ranking Members and Chairwoman Kim include: isolating and delegitimizing the Burmese junta; holding the junta accountable for its violence, human rights abuses and scam centers through sanctions; appointing a senior official to coordinate U.S. Burma policy and engage democratic stakeholders; supporting Rohingya and other refugees in the region through humanitarian assistance; and providing adequate resources to enact these goals.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (8th District of New York)
Today, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries spoke on the House Floor against House Republicans’ DHS funding bill that prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people and in support of legislation that pays our TSA agents and reforms Donald Trump’s mass deportation machine.
LEADER JEFFRIES: I rise today in strong opposition to this Republican budget that prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people. We’re now more than 40 days into a Trump-Republican shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. Why are we here?Republicans are trying to convince the American people that Democrats should be blamed.
Wait a second. Last time I checked, Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency. And you’ve spent the last 15 months trying to lecture the American people that you have some historic mandate. If, in fact, that is the case, when the government shuts down in its entirety or partially, it’s because Republicans have decided to shut the government down, and, in this particular instance, to prioritize ICE brutality over the American people. There’s legislation that is available for Republicans to bring to the Floor that would pass overwhelmingly to fund the entirety of the Department of Homeland Security, with the exception of ICE and the Trump extreme mass deportation machine, which has unleashed incredible, unspeakable brutality on the American people and on law-abiding immigrant families.
Why have Republicans chosen to prioritize ICE brutality over the American people when—it’s not that complicated—we should be paying TSA agents? Instead, Donald Trump and Republicans have sent ICE agents to airports all across the country. Watch this. ICE agents who are sitting around, standing up, doing nothing to address the airport crisis right now. ICE agents, however, at these very airports, doing nothing, are being paid.
At the same period of time, TSA agents who were doing the work have been forced by Republicans to work without pay for more than 40 days. Why? Republicans have decided that they don’t want to get ICE under control and instead are forcing TSA agents to work without pay, inconveniencing millions of Americans all across the country and causing chaos at airports throughout the land. Unacceptable. Enough is enough.
Republicans can simply bring a bill to the Floor to reopen every other aspect of the Department of Homeland Security, pay [TSA] agents, support FEMA, stand up for the Coast Guard and make sure that this country can continue to function. But instead, as we’ve repeatedly seen, Republicans have decided they’d rather jam your right-wing extreme ideology down the throats of the American people.
We haven’t been complicated in the point that we’ve made to our Republican colleagues about what needs to happen when it comes to ICE. We’re standing on the side of the American people. Yes, we will always support securing the border—today, tomorrow, forever. But at the same period of time, immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, just and humane.
[To Republican Representative Interrupting: If you have something to say to me, you can say it right now. That’s what I thought.]
Immigration enforcement in this country should be fair, it should be just and it should be humane. But instead, you’re unleashing brutality on the American people, using taxpayer dollars, in some instances, to kill American citizens like Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, a nurse who was dedicating his life to be there for veterans who served this country. And we believe that in America, taxpayer dollars should be used to make life more affordable for the American people, not brutalize or kill them. To make life more affordable for the American people.
And here’s the thing. What we’ve put on the table—yes, we believe dramatic changes to ICE should be bold and transformational and meaningful, but there are also common-sense changes vastly supported by the American people. That includes ensuring that judicial warrants are required before masked ICE agents can storm the homes of the American people and rip them out of bed in the middle of the night. There should be independent investigations by state and local authorities so that ICE agents who violently break the law can be held accountable, just like every other American. We believe that ICE agents should be compelled to conduct themselves like every other cop, police officer or law enforcement agency. That’s not what’s happening right now.
We need an end to roving patrols that are violently targeting law-abiding immigrant families and brutalizing the American people. The masks need to come off. Body cameras need to come on. And yes, we also need to protect sensitive locations like houses of worship, hospitals, schools and polling sites. These are common-sense reforms that at the same period of time are bold, meaningful and transformational. They’re designed to accomplish one chief objective: make sure that ICE conducts itself like every other law enforcement agency in the country. Like every other cop, every other police officer and every other state trooper. But that’s not what’s happening in this country right now.
This Republican budget that is before us prioritizes ICE brutality over the American people. And that’s why House Democrats are strongly opposed. And what’s interesting, to make matters worse, because this is all about priorities and choices, and the choices that Republicans have made, the priorities that Republicans are emphasizing, are all hurting the American people. Using taxpayer dollars to brutalize them, and at the same period of time, spending billions of dollars in a reckless war of choice in the Middle East, dropping bombs in the Middle East, but won’t spend a dime to make life more affordable for everyday Americans. What kind of choice is that? That’s where your priorities are, Madam Speaker. It’s extraordinary to me. We think taxpayer dollars should be used to make life better for the American people. And there are a variety of ways to do it.
We should be focused on that because America is too expensive right now. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down, they’ve gone up. Housing costs out of control. Health insurance premiums out of control. Grocery bills out of control. Child care costs out of control. Utility bills out of control. America is too expensive and is getting more expensive because of failed Republican policies. Donald Trump promised to lower costs on day one. Costs aren’t going down, Madam Speaker, in the United States of America, costs are going up as a direct result of failed Republican policies.
The Trump tariffs have increased costs on everyday Americans by thousands of dollars per year. Republicans have refused to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits. And as a result, more than 20 million Americans are experiencing dramatically-increased health insurance premiums making it unaffordable for everyday Americans, working-class Americans and middle-class Americans to go see a doctor when they need one. That’s policy violence that Republicans are inflicting on the American people.
Republicans have launched a reckless war of choice in the Middle East, dropping bombs, spending billions of dollars. But you can’t find a dime to make life more affordable for the American people. What kind of choice is that? And you continue to lean in to your One Big Ugly Bill, which Democrats will continue to expose. Policy violence being inflicted on the American people. In that One Big Ugly Bill, you ripped healthcare away from more than 14 million Americans. That’s what Republicans have done. A trillion dollar cut, largest cut to Medicaid in American history. You’re choosing ICE brutality over the healthcare of the American people.
At the same period of time, in that One Big Ugly Bill—which every single Democrat in the House and the Senate opposed on behalf of the American people—in that One Big Ugly Bill, Republicans cut nutritional assistance by $186 billion, largest cut to SNAP in American history. Republicans literally ripped food from the mouths of hungry children, seniors and veterans, and then turned around in that same bill and gave the Department of Homeland Security—watch this—$191 billion, including creating a $75 billion slush fund for ICE to unleash brutality and violence on the American people, to kill, in at least three instances, American citizens and to violently target law-abiding immigrant families. Policy violence that Republicans are inflicting on the America people. And then you present this budget in front of us today that again prioritizes ICE brutality over standing up and making life more affordable for the American people?
These are challenging times that we’re living through here in the United States of America. Republicans unleashing extremism and policy violence each and every day of this presidency. Challenging times in the United States of America, but help is on the way. And we’re seeing that in elections all across the country, including, most recently, in the district where Mar-a-Lago sits. Help is on the way. And so our promise to the American people—we’re gonna fight as hard as we can. We’re gonna show up and stand up and speak up for the American people. We will lower the high cost of living. We will fix our broken healthcare system. We will clean up corruption. We will get ICE under control. We will stop this reckless war of choice in the Middle East. We will end this national nightmare. And, one day soon, we will continue America’s long, necessary and majestic march toward a more perfect union.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08), introduced thePermanent Housing Affordability Act, legislation aimed at addressing the ongoing housing affordability crisis and increasing access to home ownership. Companion legislation was introduced in the United States Senate by Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE).
“Home ownership has become unaffordable and unattainable for millions of Americans, especially for young people here in Washington State,” said Congresswoman Schrier. “Throughout this district, constituents tell me that, especially at a time when prices for groceries, gas, and healthcare are skyrocketing, they can’t fathom saving enough to purchase a home. This legislation bolsters an important tool in the toolkit to stand against Wall Street interests and help families achieve home ownership.”
The average age for purchasing a first home is now40. For many families, home ownership is simply out of reach. Research shows that a typical homebuyer in 2024 would need to spend about 45 percent more of their income on mortgage payments than in 2019. A sharp increase in home purchases by institutional investors – including private equity firms and Wall Street investors – has also contributed significantly to rising home costs.
This bill would address the housing affordability crisis by supporting entities like nonprofits, states, and local governments that sell homes to qualifying homebuyers at an affordable price. These homeowners then agree to a resale formula in order to keep those homes affordable in perpetuity for future buyers. These projects allow homeowners to build meaningful wealth while still allowing subsequent homebuyers to afford a home. They also ensure that public investments are impactful and long-lasting, and stay with the housing unit for generations. This model also helps keep housing out of the hands of institutional investors by reserving housing inventory strictly for affordability purposes. To read more about this legislation, clickhere.
“For too many Americans, the idea of owning a home is a pipe dream – unaffordable and out of reach,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Through an innovative concept called shared equity ownership, my Permanent Housing Affordability Act will break down barriers to accessible homeownership, putting more families on the path toward generational wealth. As I’ve said before, it’s time for the federal government to get off the sidelines and help make housing more affordable, accessible, and attainable for all. I’m proud to have written this bill to bring us one step closer to accomplishing that goal.”
“Grounded Solutions Network congratulates Senator Blunt Rochester and Representative Schrier on their introduction of the Permanent Housing Affordability Act,” said Doug Ryan, vice president of housing policy at Grounded Solutions Network. “This bill, which would advance the development of shared equity homeownership, would make homeownership possible for families across the country who are now priced out. Shared equity homeownership is a proven tool, one that uses funds efficiently, and ensures future generations of families can own homes. We have a worsening homeownership crisis. The Permanent Housing Affordability Act will help our nonprofit members and local leaders develop affordable homes that meet their communities’ needs.”
“Community land trusts across Washington State see every day that permanently affordable homeownership requires more than one tool—it takes access to land, flexible capital, and long-term stewardship working together,” said Kathleen Hosfeld at Washington State Community Land Trust Coalition. “The Permanent Housing Affordability Act reflects this reality. By investing in the full ecosystem needed to create and preserve affordable homes, it expands the supply of homeownership opportunities while ensuring those homes remain within reach for future generations. This is the kind of federal partnership that allows our work to scale and serve communities more effectively over time.”
Endorsements: Habitat for Humanity Seattle-King & Kittitas Counties, Washington State Community Land Trust Coalition, Washington Affordable Cooperative Housing Network, Grounded Solutions Network, National Housing Conference, American Planning Association, NeighborGood Partners, Community Legal Aid Society, Inc., The WRK Group, Delaware National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO), National NeighborWorks Association, Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), Incremental Development Alliance, National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST), Wilmington Land Bank, Habitat for Humanity of New Castle County, Habitat for Humanity of Central Delaware, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity, Virginia Statewide Community Land Trust, and North Carolina Community Land Trust Coalition.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Lois Frankel (FL-21)
Today, Representative Lois Frankel (FL-22), alongside Representatives Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-3), and Nikema Williams (GA-5), introduced a House resolution recognizing March 26, 2026, as Equal Pay Day—the date marking how far into the new year women must work to earn what men earned in 2025 alone.
The resolution raises awareness of the persistent gender wage gap and its impact on women and families, while reaffirming Congress’s commitment to equal pay for equal work.
“Equal pay is not just about fairness—it’s about economic security and opportunity,” said Rep. Frankel. “For generations, women have been paid less for the same work, concentrated in lower-paying jobs, and pushed out of the workforce by a lack of affordable child care. And for the second year in a row, the pay gap for full-time, year-round women workers has widened. This disparity limits women’s ability to save for retirement and reduces their Social Security and pension benefits, contributing to higher rates of poverty among older women. It’s long past time for Congress to take meaningful action to support equal pay and narrowing the gender wage gap.”
“Equal Pay Day marks how far into the current year a woman must work to catch up to what her male counterpart earned in the previous year,” said Rep. DeLauro. “Six decades after passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women working full-time or part-time still earn 76 cents for every dollar earned by men. In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis, this is unacceptable. While Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, the wage gap is costing nearly $1.7 trillion annually. Equal pay for equal work is a simple concept – men and women in the same job deserve the same pay. It is time we make it real for the millions of American women who are being unfairly undervalued in the workplace. Let’s enact the Paycheck Fairness Act and empower working women by giving them the tools to ensure their contributions to the workplace are properly respected and reflected in their pay.”
“It’s been 62 years since we passed the Equal Pay Act. And we still don’t have equal pay?! It keeps getting worse because there isn’t a mechanism to fight this discrimination. Every member of the DWC is a proud cosponsor of Rep. DeLauro’s Paycheck Fairness Act so women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable,” said Rep. Leger Fernández. “We are fighting for legislation to guarantee wage transparency so women know when they’re being paid less for the same work. We are fighting for paid leave for all so that no woman has to choose between their paycheck and caring for their loved ones. This is not just a matter of fairness—it’s a matter of dignity. We believe in a world where you can balance your work and your family without losing the job that sustains you.”
“For the second year in a row, the gender pay gap has widened, hitting Black women and women of color the hardest. Equal pay is more than a women’s issue; it is a matter of economic justice and racial justice,” said Rep. Williams. “When women are paid less for the same work, families suffer, communities struggle, and our economy falls short. I’m proud to co-lead this resolution to reaffirm our commitment to closing the gender wage gap and fully realizing the promise of the Equal Pay Act of 1963.”
The resolution was introduced with 138 original cosponsors. It is supported by many advocacy groups, including the National Partnership for Women & Families, National Organization for Women, MomsRising, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Equal Pay Today Coalition, Equal Rights Advocates, Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), Justice for Migrant Women, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA), National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum (NAPAWF), National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV), American Association of University Women (AAUW), A Better Balance, Golden State Opportunity, PowHer New York, and Women Employed.