[TODAY] Take action on Equal Pay Day

Women and families can’t afford to wait for equal pay Problems viewing this email? [View it in your browser]( [Center for American Progress]( InProgress from the Center for American Progress Women still make cents on the dollar compared with men [A server picks up dishes as workers prepare food in the open kitchen area at a restaurant]( Today is Equal Pay Day—a day to raise awareness of the gender wage gap, or the ratio of women to men’s median annual earnings. [Data from 2022]( show that the median annual earnings for women working full time, year-round was $52,360, or just 84 cents for each dollar earned by men, with much wider gaps—particularly for Black and Hispanic women—compared with white, non-Hispanic men. All women—regardless of the number of hours worked during the year—typically made $41,320 annually, or 78 cents for each dollar earned by all men. Discrimination is one of the factors contributing to this gap, causing thousands of dollars in lost wages for women over the course of their careers. That’s why we need the [Paycheck Fairness Act](. If passed, this historic bill would: - Strengthen existing equal pay protections. - Prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss their pay or challenge pay discrimination. - Limit employers’ reliance on salary history. - Bring us one step closer to equal pay. This Equal Pay Day, tell your senator to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. [Take Action Today]( This week: How Women Are Powering the Economy [A woman uses a computer to control robots at a warehouse]( [Join the Center for American Progress on March 14]( for an exciting event, “Rewriting the Playbook: How Women Are Powering the Economy.” This half-day event celebrates the introduction of CAP’s extensive policy guide, or playbook, focusing on recommendations that prioritize women in future economic agendas. You won’t want to miss this crucial conversation, during which leaders from the progressive space will come together to discuss family planning, paid leave, high-quality employment opportunities, workforce development, and more. [RSVP NOW]( It’s 2024 and we’re still demanding equal pay [Image of a woman in a yellow suit walking around big shoes on a blue background. Text reads ”It's 2024 and we're still demanding equal pay.” Text in the bottom left corner reads ”Illustration: Getty Images. Source: CAP, "5 Facts From the 2022 Wage Gap Data" (2023).” and the CAP logo is in the bottom right.”]( Today is Equal Pay Day. Today we raise awareness about the persistent gaps in wages that women earn compared with men. Women, especially women of color, are the backbone of our nation’s economy. But at the same time, they are consistently underpaid and their work is undervalued. It’s 2024. This is unacceptable. [Share This]( Over-the-counter birth control will hit shelves soon [Members of Congress support legislation that would protect birth control access during a press conference outside]( For the first time in U.S. history, a daily hormonal birth control pill will be available for purchase over the counter without a prescription. Last week, drug manufacturer Perrigo [announced]( that [Opill]( will be on shelves at retailers nationwide in the coming weeks and is available now for pre-order online at select online retailers. It will cost $19.99 for a one-month supply. This announcement comes eight months after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) [approved Opill]( for over-the-counter sale with [no age restrictions](. This is a major victory for the health of women and girls across the country. Over-the-counter birth control pills are available in more than [100 countries]( worldwide, and Americans can now celebrate finally joining that growing list. But policymakers must continue to innovate to bridge gaps in access and affordability and push reproductive health forward. [Read More]( [STATEMENT] SEC’s final rule, though incomplete, protects investors Last week’s ruling from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that called for enhanced standardization of climate-related disclosures by publicly traded corporations is a step in the right direction, even though the commission could have gone further under its authority. If enforced, the final rule will help protect investors by enhancing the reliability, consistency, and comparability of these disclosures from companies, which have been [required to disclose]( their material environmental risks for 50 years. [Read our Statement]( ‘Clean Up To Green Up’ [A video screenshot featuring Donele Wilkins, Founder and CEO of Green Door Initiative, with the words "Environmental racism is a killer." ]( Donele Wilkins created the Green Door Initiative to revitalize neighborhoods where industrial facilities and pollution are concentrated, training everyone in the community to be environmentally literate and capable of participating in the clean energy economy. The Green Door Initiative is using federal investments from the Biden administration’s Justice40 Initiative and the Inflation Reduction Act to ensure that all people—regardless of race, income, or ZIP code—have access to good jobs and live in safe and healthy communities. Hear directly from Donele Wilkens in CAP's latest video: [Watch Here]( Passion Meets Purpose: Promising Pathways Through Experiential Learning On April 21, join the Center for American Progress, the American Federation of Teachers, and the Albert Shanker Institute for a one-day conference highlighting experiential learning as a means to foster curiosity, exploration, inquiry, and comprehension in students. By focusing on student-centered approaches, experiential learning equips students with the skills necessary for promising careers across diverse fields. [Register Here]( Follow us on [Follow us on Twitter]( [Follow us on Facebook]( [Follow us on YouTube]( [Follow us on Instagram]( [Support CAP]( [Manage Email Preferences or Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( [Center for American Progress]( Center for American Progress 1333 H Street NW Washington, D.C. 20005 [supporter]