On today’s anniversary of President Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, Congresswomen Frankel called on Congress to take up the Women’s Economic Agenda – an initiative launched by House Democrats to address the economic challenges and needs facing women and families.

“It’s 2014 and women should earn equal pay for equal work. When women succeed, America succeeds,” Frankel said. “The Women’s Economic Agenda will help grow our economy, bring fairness to the workplace and give every woman the opportunity she deserves to prosper.”

In Florida, the median pay for a woman working full-time is $33,823 per year compared to $40,951 for a man, according to the National Partnership for Women & Families – meaning women are paid 83 cents for every dollar paid to men.

Yesterday, President Obama addressed the gender pay gap in the State of the Union: “Today, women make up about half our workforce.  But they still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.  That is wrong, and in 2014, it’s an embarrassment. A woman deserves equal pay for equal work.  She deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job.  A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship – and you know what, a father does, too.  It’s time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a “Mad Men” episode.”

Prior to the State of Union Address, Frankel had the opportunity to meet with Ledbetter.

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