Recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity between wages paid to men and women.
- Bill Number
- H.Con.Res. 21
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-04-02T17:54:31Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 21) aims to formally recognize the importance of equal pay for equal work and to highlight the ongoing wage disparities between men and women in the United States. It serves as a symbolic statement from Congress to raise awareness about the gender wage gap and reaffirm support for policies that promote pay equity.
Key Provisions
- Background and Statistics: The resolution includes numerous "Whereas" clauses detailing evidence of the wage gap, such as:
- Women working full-time earn about 83 cents for every dollar men earn, with even wider gaps for women of color (e.g., Latinas at 58 cents, Black women at 66 cents).
- Specific dates in 2025 are noted as observances for equal pay days for various groups, including Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women (April 7), Black women (July 10), and Latinas (October 8).
- The gap widened in 2024 for the first time in 21 years and persists across education levels, occupations, and family roles (e.g., mothers earn 74% of what fathers earn).
- Broader effects include lost wages over a career (up to $462,000), impacts on student debt, retirement savings, poverty rates, and economic growth.
- Contributing factors cited include occupational segregation, minimum wage jobs (two-thirds held by women), lack of union representation, pay discussion bans, insufficient family policies (e.g., childcare, paid leave), and workplace harassment (affecting 1 in 3 women).
- Core Resolution: Congress resolves to:
- Acknowledge the wage disparity's negative effects on women, families, and the nation.
- Reaffirm commitment to equal pay and efforts to close the gender wage gap.
- References existing laws like the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (which bans sex-based pay discrimination for equal work) and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting broader employment discrimination).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a concurrent resolution, not a bill that creates, amends, or repeals laws. It introduces no legal changes and has no binding effect; it is purely declarative and symbolic.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Raises public awareness about pay inequities, potentially encouraging discussions on workplace fairness, family economic security, and access to benefits like childcare or retirement savings. It highlights how closing the gap could free up funds for essentials like housing, education, or debt repayment.
- On Government Agencies: Minimal direct impact, but it may prompt agencies like the Department of Labor (which enforces equal pay laws) to emphasize enforcement or data collection on wage disparities.
- On International Relations: None directly addressed; the focus is domestic, though it underscores U.S. values of gender equality, which could align with global efforts on women's rights.
- Overall, impacts are indirect and educational, fostering policy momentum without enforceable outcomes.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Women Workers: Primary group, especially women of color, mothers, LGBTQI+ individuals, and those with disabilities, who face the largest wage gaps.
- Families and Communities: Affected by reduced household incomes, higher poverty risks, and limited access to education or healthcare.
- Employers and Businesses: Encouraged to address pay transparency, harassment, and family policies to reduce disparities and boost economic growth.
- Unions and Low-Wage Workers: Highlights benefits of unionization and the concentration of women in minimum-wage roles.
- Government and Policymakers: Congress members and agencies involved in labor enforcement, as the resolution reaffirms support for equity initiatives.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing anti-discrimination laws (e.g., Equal Pay Act, a federal law requiring equal pay for equal work regardless of sex) without altering them. It notes barriers like pay secrecy rules that hinder enforcement.
- Constitutional: Aligns with the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment (which prohibits sex-based discrimination) by emphasizing gender equity, but as a non-binding resolution, it carries no constitutional weight.
- Political: Introduced by a large bipartisan group of over 100 House members on March 25, 2025 (designated Equal Pay Day), it signals strong congressional consensus on gender pay issues. It could influence future legislation, such as bills on pay transparency or paid leave, and serves as a platform for advocacy by national organizations, though it risks partisan debates on economic policies.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (132)
Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3], Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11], Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34], Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] and 82 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-03-25: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
- 2025-03-25: Submitted in House
- 2025-03-25: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity between wages paid to men and women. — issued 2025-03-25 — PDF (6 pages)