SR0213 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0213 LRB103 31414 MST 59074 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The future of our nation's productivity and competitiveness in the global marketplace depends on the success of all men and women; and

WHEREAS, Women have been discriminated against in education, the workplace, and society as a whole; and

WHEREAS, Equal Pay Day, representing all women, is celebrated each year on March 14; this date is based on U.S. Census figures showing that the average woman who works full-time is paid on average just 84% of the typical man's pay; started by the National Committee on Pay Equity (NCPE) in 1996, the goal of Equal Pay Day is to raise awareness about the gender wage gap; and

WHEREAS, In 2022, changes were made to the methodology, and The Equal Pay Day Calendar now encompasses a broader cross-section of women, including those who work part-time or seasonally, to represent a more accurate picture of how the gender pay gap impacts diverse communities; the COVID-19 pandemic pushed many women, especially women of color, into part-time or seasonal work or out of the workforce all together; because of this, past methods of calculating the wage gap fell short of accurately capturing the full picture; with the new inclusive methodology, we can advocate on behalf of all women in the workforce; and

WHEREAS, Because the pay gap varies significantly among different communities, other Equal Pay Days have been added to the calendar over the years to reflect the fact that many women must work far longer into the year to catch up to men; and

WHEREAS, LGBTQIA+ Equal Pay Awareness Day is June 15; this day raises awareness about the wage gap experienced by the LGBTQIA+ community; and

WHEREAS, Black Women's Equal Pay Day is July 27; Black women working full-time and year-round are paid 67 cents, and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 64 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men; and

WHEREAS, Moms' Equal Pay Day is August 15; moms working full-time and year-round are paid 74 cents, and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 62 cents for every dollar paid to dads; and

WHEREAS, Latina's Equal Pay Day is October 5; Latina women working full-time and year-round are paid 57 cents, and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 54 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men; and

WHEREAS, Native Women's Equal Pay Day is November 30; Native women working full-time and year-round are paid 57 cents, and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 51 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men; and

WHEREAS, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Women's Equal Pay Day is also held each year to reflect how Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander women working full-time and year-round are paid 92 cents, and all earners (including part-time and seasonal) are paid 80 cents for every dollar paid to non-Hispanic white men; and

WHEREAS, The pay gap has been shown to start as soon as one year after college; this inequality affects not only women but also their families and society as a whole; and

WHEREAS, The pay gap between women and men has long-term effects on women's economic security; such a gap affects women's Social Security earnings, their ability to save for retirement, and their children's education; and

WHEREAS, Pay equity is closely linked to the eradication of poverty and is essential to having a highly-motivated workforce; and

WHEREAS, Equal pay is a priority for all women and for our society at large; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we declare March 14, 2023 as "Equal Pay Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we encourage the citizens of this State to learn about the pay gap that women experience in society and to learn about these various dates that bring attention to the pay gap that specific groups experience.