A concurrent resolution recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity in wages paid to men and to Black women.
- Bill Number
- S.Con.Res. 16
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Labor and Employment
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4320)
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T21:41:04Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 16) aims to recognize Black Women's Equal Pay Day on July 10, 2025, highlighting the ongoing wage gap between Black women and White, non-Hispanic men. It underscores the economic and social impacts of this disparity and reaffirms Congress's commitment to equal pay for equal work.
Key Provisions
- Background and Facts: The resolution includes numerous "Whereas" clauses detailing statistics and issues, such as:
- Black women working full-time earn 66 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-Hispanic men, dropping to 64 cents when including part-time workers.
- At current trends, equal pay for Black women could take over 200 years.
- Over a 40-year career, the average Black woman loses nearly $1,019,200 in potential earnings due to the gap.
- Black women face compounded discrimination based on race and gender, including higher rates of workplace sexual harassment (with Black women most likely to file charges) and overrepresentation in low-wage jobs.
- Barriers like lack of affordable childcare, paid leave, and wage discussion restrictions exacerbate the gap.
- The gap affects broader disparities in homeownership, unemployment, poverty, and wealth accumulation for Black women.
- More than 69% of Black mothers are primary breadwinners, compared to a small fraction of White mothers.
- Resolution Actions: Congress resolves to:
- Recognize the wage disparity's impact on Black women, families, and the U.S. economy.
- Reaffirm support for equal pay and efforts to narrow the gender wage gap through a multifaceted strategy addressing racial and gender injustices.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding concurrent resolution, so it introduces no changes to existing laws. It references prior legislation 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 (which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, or sex), but does not amend or enforce them.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Raises public awareness of wage inequities, potentially encouraging advocacy for better workplace policies like paid leave and anti-harassment measures. It highlights how closing the gap could afford essentials like childcare, housing, education, healthcare, and student loan repayment for Black women and their families.
- On Government Agencies: No direct mandates, but it may prompt the Department of Labor or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission to reference it in reports or enforcement efforts on pay equity.
- On the Economy: Emphasizes how lost wages reduce spending power, affecting businesses and overall economic growth; eliminating the gap could boost family support and wealth-building.
- On International Relations: None mentioned or implied.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Black Women Workers: Directly addressed as facing the wage gap, harassment, and related barriers; they stand to benefit most from awareness and policy reforms.
- Families and Communities: Particularly Black families, where women are often primary breadwinners, impacted by reduced earnings and limited access to services.
- Employers and Businesses: Encouraged to address pay transparency, harassment, and family-friendly policies to reduce discrimination.
- Congress and Policymakers: Signals bipartisan (though primarily Democratic sponsors) support for equity issues, potentially influencing future legislation.
- Broader Workforce: Women of color in low-wage or tipped jobs, and all workers affected by minimum wage and discussion restrictions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Reinforces existing anti-discrimination laws without creating new enforceable rights or penalties; it promotes voluntary compliance and awareness rather than litigation.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Equal Protection Clause principles under the 14th Amendment by highlighting race and sex-based inequities, but as a resolution, it has no binding force.
- Political: Serves as a symbolic gesture to commemorate Black Women's Equal Pay Day, sponsored by 28 senators (mostly Democrats), fostering dialogue on intersectional inequities. It could build momentum for comprehensive reforms but risks being seen as performative without accompanying bills. The document notes slow progress (only 5 cents narrowed in two decades), urging a "multifaceted strategy" for change.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE]
Cosponsors (32)
Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Fetterman, John [D-PA], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Ossoff, Jon [D-GA], Sen. Smith, Tina [D-MN], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL], Sen. Schumer, Charles E. [D-NY], Sen. Sanders, Bernard [I-VT], Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT], Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-10: Referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (text: CR S4320)
- 2025-07-10: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the significance of equal pay and the disparity in wages paid to men and to Black women. — issued 2025-07-10 — PDF (5 pages)