LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim May 16, 2016, as Mother's Equal Pay Day in the State of New
York

WHEREAS, Mothers who work full time, year round and have children under
18 at home typically have lower earnings than fathers ($38,000 compared
to $55,000), meaning mothers only make 69 cents for every dollar paid to
fathers; this translates to a wage gap of 31 cents on the dollar, which
is larger than the overall wage gap of 23 cents; and
WHEREAS, According to the U.S. Census Bureau, year-round, full-time
working women in 2010 earned only 77.4% of the earnings of year-round,
full-time working men, indicating little change or progress in pay equi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Even though mothers make less, they are increasingly respon-
sible for providing for their families; mothers are breadwinners or
co-breadwinners in almost two-thirds of families with children in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, Over a working lifetime, this wage disparity costs the aver-
age American woman and her family an estimated $700,000 to $2 million in
lost wages, impacting Social Security benefits and pensions; and
WHEREAS, Mothers are also much more likely than fathers to shoulder
child care responsibilities, even if both parents work; in dual-income
households with children, mothers spend almost twice as much time on
child care as fathers; and
WHEREAS, In addition, when workplace policies do not reflect families'
realities, with inflexible and unpredictable schedules and without paid
family leave or even paid sick days, it is difficult for parents to
balance family and work responsibilities; nearly one in five low-wage
working moms have lost a job due to sickness or caring for a sick child;
and
WHEREAS, Fair pay equity policies can be implemented simply and with-
out undue costs or hardship in both the public and private sectors; and
WHEREAS, Fair pay strengthens the security of families today and eases
future retirement costs, while enhancing the American economy; and
WHEREAS, In female-dominated fields, wages have traditionally been
depressed and continue to reflect the artificially suppressed pay scales
that were historically applied to so-called "women's work"; and
WHEREAS, Monday, May 16, 2016, symbolizes the time in the New Year in
which the wages paid to American mothers catch up to the wages paid to
men from the previous year; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 16, 2016, as Moth-
er's Equal Pay Day in the State of New York, recognizing the full value
of women's skills and significant contributions to the labor force, and
to further encourage businesses to conduct an internal pay evaluation to
ensure women are being paid fairly; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.