HARRISBURG, PA — State lawmakers sponsoring pay-equity bills on April 7 joined with advocates at the Pennsylvania Capitol to call for action on the legislation.

“This year, April 8 will be Equal Pay Day because it takes the average Pennsylvania woman one year, three months and eight days to make as much as a man. More than half of the population is female—we are not a ‘special interest.’ Equal pay is an issue everyone in Harrisburg needs to take seriously,” said Rep. Erin Molchany.

Rep. Brian Sims said, “Pay-equity laws have been around for 40 or more years, but Pennsylvania women on average make only 54 to 83 cents for every dollar men make, depending on which county they’re in. Clearly it’s time to strengthen and update the law to bring about real pay equity.”