Congresswoman Lois Frankel joined key women Congressional leaders in a meeting with President Obama to discuss the Women’s Economic Agenda: When Women Succeeds, America Succeeds and the White House’s upcoming Summit on Working Families.

They discussed a number of key issues that would benefit women and their families, including an increase in the federal minimum wage, equal pay, paid family and sick leave, and increasing nontraditional and STEM jobs for women.

“Mothers should not have to choose between working an extra job to pay rent and helping their child with homework,” said Frankel. “Advancing the women's economic agenda means building stronger families and communities.”

Prior to the meeting, The White House Council of Economic Advisors released new economic findings showing that, despite the progress that has been made, a gender wage gap persists. 

On average, full-time year-round female workers earn 77 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn, and a wage gap is found throughout the income distribution and is even bigger for women of color. At the same time, women are concentrated in low-wage occupations and are more likely than men to earn the minimum wage.

More than ever before, ensuring the success of women and working families will ensure the success of our economy, our workplaces, and our most vulnerable citizens.

This will be a focus of the White House’s Summit on Working Families. The Summit, which will be held on June 23, 2014, will convene businesses, academics, labor leaders, legislators, advocates, the media, and workers to discuss issues facing the entire spectrum of working families.

###