天之聪教育 2014-03-24 White House 680次
Weekly Address: Rewarding Women’s Hard Work and Increasing the Minimum Wage
The White House
March 22, 2014
Hi, everybody. This week, I visited a community college in Florida, where I spoke with students about what we need to do to make sure our economy rewards the hard work of every American.
More specifically, I spoke about making sure our economy rewards the hard work of women.
Today, women make up about half of our workforce, and more than half of our college graduates. More women are now their families’ main breadwinner than ever before.
But in a lot of ways, our economy hasn’t caught up to this new reality yet. On average, a woman still earns just 77 cents for every dollar a man does. And too many women face outdated workplace policies that hold them back – which in turn holds back our families and our entire economy.
A woman deserves to earn equal pay for equal work, and paid leave that lets you take a day off to care for a sick child or parent. Congress needs to act on these priorities.
And when women hold most lower-wage jobs in America, Congress needs to raise the minimum wage. Because no woman who works full-time should ever have to raise her children in poverty.
Now, the good news is that in the year since I first called on Congress to raise the minimum wage, six states have passed laws to raise theirs. More states, counties, and cities are working to raise their minimum wages as we speak. Small businesses like St. Louis-based Pi Pizzeria, are raising their wages too – not out of charity, but because it’s good for business. And by the way, Pi makes a really good pizza. And in this year of action, I signed an executive order requiring federal contractors to pay their employees a fair wage of at least ten dollars and ten cents an hour.
But if we’re truly going to reward the hard work of every American, Congress needs to join the rest of the country and pass a bill that would lift the federal minimum wage to ten dollars and ten cents an hour. This wouldn’t just raise wages for minimum wage workers – its effects would lift wages for nearly 28 million Americans across this country. It will give businesses more customers with more money to spend, and grow the economy for everybody. So call up your Member of Congress and let them know it’s time for “ten-ten.” It’s time to give America a raise.
A true opportunity agenda is one that works for working women. Because when women succeed, America succeeds. We do better when everyone participates, and when everyone who works hard has the chance to get ahead. That’s what opportunity means – and it’s why I’ll keep fighting to restore it.
Thanks, everybody, and have a great weekend.
点击查看口译资料,热点口译专题,阅读更多相关文章!
I am delighted to pay a state visit to the beautiful country of Hungary at the gracious invitation of President Tamás Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. On behalf of the government and people of China, I wish to extend heartfelt greetings and best wi
新华网 2024-05-10 14:20:56
收藏资讯
2024年5月8日,在赴布达佩斯对匈牙利进行国事访问之际,国家主席习近平在匈牙利《匈牙利民族报》发表题为《携手引领中匈关系驶入“黄金航道”》的署名文章。
新华网 2024-05-10 14:17:17
收藏资讯
Israeli forces continue to bomb several areas of Rafah despite stern warnings from the White House.
CRI 2024-05-10 13:43:29
收藏资讯
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Budapest for a state visit.He was greeted at the airport by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his wife.In a written speech upon arrival, President Xi hailed the development of bilateral relations over th
CRI 2024-05-09 16:11:04
收藏资讯