In observance of Equal Pay Day, a bicameral coalition of Michigan legislators led by members of the Progressive Women’s Caucus (PWC) unveiled legislation during a virtual press conference aimed at closing the gender pay gap in Michigan. In response, state Rep. Padma Kuppa (D-Troy), sponsor of a bill in the package, released the following statement:

“Every Michigander, regardless of who they are, deserves an equal shot at building a secure, successful future for themselves and their family. When the hardworking people of our state don’t receive equal pay for equal work, it doesn’t just hurt them—it hurts our communities, economy and state as a whole. As we continue to fight the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we can’t afford to leave any money on the table. With these bills, I’m hopeful that we will be one step closer to building a bright future free of pay disparities in all forms.”