Senator Mazie K. Hirono joined her U.S. Senate colleagues in celebrating the 4th anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act by submitting remarks for the Congressional Record today. Hirono took the opportunity to call for passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act, a measure that would force employers who pay women employees less than their male counterparts to justify the pay disparity and show the disparity is not based on gender. On average, a woman in Hawaii earns just 82 cents for every dollar that a man in the same occupation makes. …

“We need to do more, and that is why I’m proud to be a cosponsor of Senator Mikulski’s Paycheck Fairness Act. This bill would force employers who pay women employees less than their male counterparts to justify the pay disparity and must show the disparity is not based on gender. Frankly, it is sad that this legislation is necessary today, but it is. Women got the vote over 90 years ago. It is long past time we get equal pay for equal work.”

—Chad Blair

Photo courtesy office of Sen. Mazie Hirono.