Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Sen. Pinkney & Rep. Dorsey Walker

DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 65

RECOGNIZING JULY 27, 2023, AS "BLACK WOMEN’S EQUAL PAY DAY” IN THE STATE OF DELAWARE.

WHEREAS, July 27 ^th marks the day of the year on which the median earnings of a working Black woman will have caught up to the median 2022 annual earnings of a non-Hispanic white man; and

WHEREAS, the date for Black Women’s Equal Pay Day was August 3 ^rd in 2021; and

WHEREAS, per the federal Department of Labor, Black women earn an average of 63 cents for every dollar made by white, non-Hispanic men; and

WHEREAS, according to Forbes, Black mothers earn an average of 50 cents for every dollar made by white, non-Hispanic men; and

WHEREAS, per the Journal of Blacks in Higher Education, 64% of Black students earning bachelor’s degrees are women; and

WHEREAS, lower wages for Black women make it more difficult to pay off student debt accrued while earning post-secondary degrees; and

WHEREAS, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, women of color saw the largest pandemic-related dips in employment due to additional caregiving needs, job loss, and lack of health benefits; and

WHEREAS, the lasting effects of segregation have had a generational impact on people of color, including Black women workers, which results in less money for caretaking responsibilities and for future generations.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the 152 ^nd General Assembly of the State of Delaware, the House of Representatives concurring therein, that the General Assembly hereby recognizes July 27, 2023, as “Black Women’s Equal Pay Day” in the State of Delaware.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all Delawareans are encouraged to join us in recognizing the contributions Black women have made in every aspect of life and in recognizing the sacrifices they have made to champion equality.