CAPAC Members Recognize AANHPI Equal Pay Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) recognize Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Equal Pay Day, the date when AANHPI women’s average earnings catch up to what white, non-Hispanic men made in the previous year. On average, AANHPI women make only 80 cents on the dollar compared to white men, and disaggregated data show significantly wider gaps.
To mark AANHPI Equal Pay Day, CAPAC Members issued the following statements:
CAPAC Chair Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28):
“It shouldn’t take AANHPI women an average of 16 months to earn what white men make in one year, often for the same work. And when we examine the disaggregated data, many AANHPI women face even wider wage gaps—with Native Hawaiian women only making 61 cents for every dollar, and Bangladeshi and Nepalese American women making less than 50 cents. It is shameful that discriminatory wage gaps on the basis of race and gender persist in our country, and it is vital to women, their families, and to our economy that Congress address these injustices. Today on AANHPI Equal Pay Day, and every day, I will continue to fight for fair and equal wages for all AANHPI women.”
CAPAC First Vice-Chair Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06):
“AANHPI Equal Pay Day marks the three extra months that an AANHPI woman works on average to earn the same amount as a white, non-Hispanic man makes in one year. AANHPI women earn on average 80 cents—and as low as 50 cents—for every dollar earned by a white, non-Hispanic man, leading to over $1 million in lost wages over a lifetime. It is unacceptable that these massive gender and racial wage gaps continue to persist in every industry, at every level of employment, regardless of education level or experience. The work of AANHPI women is invaluable. As a working Asian American woman and mother, I will never stop fighting against the discrimination that AANHPI women face in the workplace and the persistence of the gender and racial wage gap. Equal pay for AANHPI women is essential to creating a more just and fair society.”
CAPAC Whip Rep. Ted Lieu (CA-36):
“Today is the day in the calendar year that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women finally catch up to what their white male counterparts earned in the previous year. According to the National Women’s Law Center, the average AANHPI woman will lose more than $240,000 to the pay gap throughout the course of her career. Lower wages touch every aspect of our lives, from health care outcomes to educational attainment. As we observe AANHPI Equal Pay Day, I’m pleased to stand with my CAPAC colleagues and call for pay equity for all Americans.”
Sen. Tammy Duckworth (IL):
“Today marks AANHPI Equal Pay Day—but it shouldn't take until April for the pay of AANHPI women to finally catch up to what their white male counterparts made for the same work last year. But we have the power to make this AANHPI Equal Pay Day the last. It is past time we pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and guarantee equal pay for equal work for all women.”
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07):
“AANHPI women make only 80 cents on the dollar compared to white men, and it gets worse when you disaggregate by race. It’s outrageous that gender and racial biases still take precedent over skill and experience. It's time to close this pay gap and ensure that all AANHPI women in our country have the resources to not only survive, but also have the opportunity to thrive.”
Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03):
“The need for legislative action to close the gender pay gap dates back more than 50 years ago with the Equal Pay Act of 1963. And yet, in 2023 women and even worse so women of color, are still paid less than their white-male counterparts for the same work. Today on Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Equal Pay Day, I stand with AANHPI women making around 80 cents to the dollar of a man, I recognize their worth in the world and in our workforce, and I am committed to passing legislation like the Paycheck Fairness Act that would finally deliver women a fair wage.”
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08):
“April 5th marks the date when Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women’s average earnings catch up to what white, non-Hispanic men made in the previous year. It’s a glaring reminder of the work we have left to do in ensuring the economic security of AANHPI women and raising awareness of how the wage gap affects AANHPI women and girls. AANHPI women need comprehensive equal pay policies that will address continued patterns of pay discrimination, and I am committed to continuing such efforts to address these wage gaps and strengthen workplace protections.”
Sen. Cory Booker (NJ):
“The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Equal Pay Day raises awareness around the persistent pay disparity experienced by AANHPI women in the US. This issue is a serious concern within the AANHPI community but is often overlooked due to the model minority myth and misconception that AANHPIs are high-achieving immigrants with high incomes. Aggregating data for over 25 unique ethnic groups in one number not only provides an inaccurate picture of the pay gap experienced by AANHPI women but also blunts the seriousness of this issue. The wage gap is drastically different for each ethnic group and these differences serve as a reminder that all AANHPI women deserve to live and work with dignity.”
Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01):
“Today marks when the average earnings of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women catch up to what their white non-Hispanic male counterparts earned last year. Many AANHPI women face wider wage gaps, even when accounting for factors like education and experience. On Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Equal Pay Day, I join my CAPAC colleagues in renewing our work to address income inequality and close these persistent pay gaps.”