•HCON 117 IH 
to spend on goods and services that help drive economic 
growth; 
Whereas the wage gap impacts women’s ability to save for re-
tirement and women’s total Social Security and pension 
benefits, and older women are more likely than men to 
live in poverty; 
Whereas sex discrimination in education, hiring, and pro-
motion has played a role in maintaining a workforce seg-
regated by sex; 
Whereas sex-based wage differentials— 
(1) depress employee wages and living standards 
necessary for their health and well-being; 
(2) reduce family incomes and contribute to the 
higher poverty rates among women and their families; 
and 
(3) prevent the effective and maximum utilization of 
available labor resources; 
Whereas a wage gap exists in nearly every occupational field 
but opening traditionally male jobs to women and reduc-
ing occupational segregation by sex increases earnings for 
women; 
Whereas as much as 38 percent of the wage gap is unex-
plained by observable factors such as variation in edu-
cational attainment, industry and occupation, and may 
reflect discrimination; 
Whereas two-thirds of private sector workers report that em-
ployers either prohibit or discourage them from dis-
cussing their pay, which can keep the existence of pay 
discrimination hidden and prevent remedying that dis-
crimination; 
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•HCON 117 IH 
Whereas nearly two-thirds of workers paid the minimum 
wage or less are women and the concentration of women 
in low-wage jobs is a significant contributor to the wage 
gap; 
Whereas the lack of family-friendly policies, such as access to 
affordable, quality childcare, paid family and medical 
leave, and fair and predictable work schedules, forces 
many caregivers to choose between providing for their 
families financially and ensuring their loved ones receive 
quality care, and contributes to the wage gap; 
Whereas women hold two-thirds of outstanding student loan 
debt, totaling over $800,000,000,000, and are less likely 
to be able to pay off their student loan debt promptly due 
to wage disparities; 
Whereas equal pay strengthens the economic security of fami-
lies and enhances retirement savings; 
Whereas when women are paid fairly, families are stronger, 
businesses prosper, and American values and the econ-
omy are strengthened; 
Whereas if women in the United States received equal pay 
with comparable men, poverty for working women in 
2016 would be reduced by half and the economy would 
have added $512,000,000,000; 
Whereas, April 10, 2018, is Equal Pay Day, marking the day 
that symbolizes how far into 2018 women must work to 
make what men were paid in 2017 alone; and 
Whereas numerous national organizations have designated 
Tuesday, April 10, 2018, as Equal Pay Day to represent 
the additional time that women must work to compensate 
for the average 20 percent lower wages paid to women 
last year: Now, therefore, be it 
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•HCON 117 IH 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That the Congress recognizes the significance 
of Equal Pay Day to illustrate the disparity between wages 
paid to men and women, and its impact on women, fami-
lies, and the Nation. 
Æ 
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