| Advertisement |
March 15 (UPI) -- President Joe Biden commemorated Equal Pay Day at the White House on Tuesday after signing new legislation aimed at closing the gender pay gap. "I'm Joe Biden, I'm Jill Biden's husband and proud of it," the president said, during his opening remarks in front of several female Cabinet members and staffers.
Advertisement
Biden called it the "most inspiring event we've had at the White House," before pointing to his efforts to lower the costs of both childcare and eldercare "so that women can get back to work."
"Earlier today, I signed an executive order to promote efforts to achieve pay equality, pay equity for employees of federal contractors. And it's my hope that sets an example for all private companies to follow as well," Biden said.
He also trumpeted his judicial appointments, including the nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson, a Black woman, to the U.S. Supreme Court, as a sign of progress.
"We have [also] confirmed more Black women to the circuit court of appeals than every previous administration combined," Biden said.
Vice President Kamala Harris was initially scheduled to be on stage. Her appearance was canceled at the last minute "out of an abundance of caution" after her husband, who was also supposed to attend, tested positive for COVID-19.
"It's not just the Cabinet. We have women in senior roles at every level right here at the White House and across the administration, many of whom are here today and something I'm very proud of," said Biden, before introducing soccer players from the U.S. Women's National Team.
Team members recently settled a historic lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation over unequal pay. Under the agreement, the federation agreed to pay members of the team $24 million and guarantee bonuses that are equal to what men receive.
"We believe anything is possible in this country. And that singular power of example shows our daughters, our granddaughters, there's not a single thing a man can do that a woman can't do as well or better," said Biden, before ceding the floor to his wife, Jill Biden.
"Looking around this room at many women who have blazed trails and shattered glass ceilings," said the first lady.
"Today we honor the women who made us and the women we make ... We know that there is still far to travel but we keep moving guided by the strong hands of the women that came before us."
Equal Pay Day was established by the National Committee on Pay Equity in 1996, with the date symbolizing how far into the year women must work to earn what men earned the previous year.
The March 15 date marks the earliest day in the year Equal Pay Day has been held and represents that women make 83 cents on the dollar compared to men, up from 82 cents in 2021 when the event landed on March 23.
Experts say that pay disparities are even greater for Black, Native American, Latina and Asian women compared to White men. Disabled women earn 80 cents for every dollar compared to men with disabilities.
Also, when comparing all female workers and all male workers -- regardless of how many hours they worked -- women were typically paid 73 cents for every dollar paid to men, meaning that a woman would have to work until she is 72 to be paid what a man earns by age 60, according to Forbes. Female workers lose about $417,000 over a 40-year career due to the pay gap.
Ahead of Equal Pay Day one year ago, Biden signed an executive order establishing the White House Gender Policy Council to advance gender equity, equal rights and opportunities for women and girls.
