Friend, it’s an undeniable truth that when we empower women, we empower our communities and country.

Today, August 26th, is Women’s Equality Day, so let’s talk about pay parity in the United States.

Despite decades of fighting and incremental change, women still don’t get equal pay for equal work. The discrepancy is even worse for women of color.

• On average, women earn 79 cents for every dollar men earn. And that’s for full-time, year-round work.
• The disparity is even worse for women of color with African American women earning only 61 cents, Native American women earning 58 cents, Latinas earning 53 cents, and Asian women earning 77 cents for every dollar their white male counterpart earns.
• This adds up quick: the yearly pay gap is around $10,762 per woman, or a collective $500 billion a year.

If you agree that it’s time to close the pay gap once and for all, please sign my petition to demand equal pay for equal work.

I have a record of fighting for women’s rights: I helped introduce the (bipartisan!) Paycheck Fairness Act and, since two-thirds of Americans making minimum wage are women, I’ve pushed to raise the minimum wage.

I’ve also fought to help women start their own small businesses, pass paid family and medical leave, defend LGBTQ Americans against discrimination, and protect the rights of women to make their own reproductive health care decisions without the government prying into their private lives.

I’m particularly proud that NARAL, an advocacy organization known for championing equality and reproductive freedom, has endorsed my re-election campaign.

Add your name to my petition! Equal work deserves equal pay.

In solidarity,

Stephanie