Washington, DC – Today on Equal Pay Day, Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries joined Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro and members of the House Democratic Women’s Caucus at a press conference to support the reintroduction of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Leader Jeffries: Good morning, everyone. It’s an honor and a privilege to be here. So thankful for the incredible leadership of Rosa DeLauro, in connection with a whole host of issues of importance to the American people, but certainly in the context of the Paycheck Fairness Act.

It’s an honor to be with a group of amazing and powerful women leaders for this country. Of course, the Speaker Emerita, Nancy Pelosi, the greatest Speaker of all time. We’re thankful for her. Our tremendous whip, Katherine Clark, of course, the leaders of the Democratic Women’s Caucus, Teresa Leger Fernandez, who’s doing a tremendous job standing on the shoulders of another great leader, Lois Frankel, as well as Jan Schakowsky, who are here.

I’m not sure how I made it on the list, but I’m honored to be here on behalf of this critically important issue. When women succeed, America succeeds. But in order to make sure that women can succeed as a result of their incredible God-given talent, ability, intellect, brilliance and resilience, we have to level the playing field. And that is what the Paycheck Fairness Act is all about.

For the women of America, and for the good of this country, it is not acceptable that in the United States of America far too many women have to work twice as hard for often half the pay. That should never occur. It hurts these women, it hurts their families, it hurts their communities, it hurts the country’s economic competitiveness. And so, we strongly stand behind Rosa DeLauro and her leadership. We strongly stand behind the Paycheck Fairness Act. We will strongly stand behind leveling the playing field and creating equal economic opportunity for success for the women of America. The current situation is unacceptable, unconscionable and it’s un-American.

And we will not rest until the Paycheck Fairness Act is the law of the land. Thank you very much.

Full press conference can be watched here.

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