Reps. Cherfilus-McCormick and Pressley Introduce Resolution Recognizing Disabled Women’s Equal Pay Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. -Thursday, October 23, 2025, marks Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day. In recognition of this day, Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20) and Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced the Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day Resolution.This resolutionunderscores the importance of equal pay and draws attention to the persistent wage gap between disabled women and both disabled and non-disabled men.

More than sixty years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, disabled women continue to face significant economic hardship. The ongoing pay disparity harms women, families, and the nation as a whole. This resolution reaffirms members' commitment to closing the gender, disability, and racial wage gap.

"Our workforce deserves equity and respect. The fact that disabled women veterans earned, on average, just 62 cents for every dollar paid to non-disabled male veterans in 2022 is unacceptable," said Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick. "Equal pay is not only a matter of fairness, but also a matter of dignity and justice. Disabled women contribute to every sector of our economy, and their work must be valued and compensated accordingly."

"For disabled women to be paid just 56 cents for every dollar paid to nondisabled men is an insult and an injustice," said Rep. Ayanna Pressley. "It is long past time for disabled women to be paid fairly. Last year, I was honored to commemorate the first-ever Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day with Congresswoman Wexton. I am grateful to uphold this commemoration this year alongside Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick, continue our calls for change, and affirm that disabled women deserve to be treated with dignity and respect."

"Disabled women face one of the widest wage gaps in our economy due to policy failures that limit opportunity and fair pay," said Taryn Williams, senior fellow for disability at the National Partnership for Women & Families. "Yet instead of working to close this gap, the Trump Administration has weakened equal employment protections, and a Republican-led Congress has advanced devastating Medicaid cuts that threaten disabled women's health, independence, and economic security. On this Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day, we're calling on lawmakers to advance policy solutions that help disabled women survive and thrive - whether or not they are in the workforce."

"The wage gap costs disabled women tens of thousands of dollars each year, and many disabled women of color stand to lose even more," said Gaylynn Burroughs, vice president for education and workplace justice at the National Women's Law Center. "Pay equity for disabled women is about justice - and this wage gap is the result of policy choices that must be changed. The Trump administration's attacks on civil rights and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are doing nothing to close the wage gap and will only close off avenues to economic security. We need public investments and policies that not only close the wage gap but allow all disabled women and their families to thrive."

"Medicaid Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) give disabled workers the essential supports they need to find and keep good jobs," said Nina Stoller, Policy Coordinator, Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN). "In honor of Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day 2025, The Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) encourages advocates to meet with their state governors and lawmakers about adequately funding HCBS in their state budgets."

"Unequal pay and inaccessible workplaces aren't just unfair, they're disabling," said Kenrya Rankin (she/her), Managing Director at Disability Culture Lab. "Black disabled women are in a particularly difficult place right now, as we face record job losses and juggle caregiving for our children, our parents, and ourselves. And capitalism - plus the current Administration - demand that we do it all without accommodations. We need to invest in Black women, but this Administration would rather implement policies that further disable us."

"While the Trump Administration attacks disabled people's most basic human rights, autonomy, livelihoods, and economic opportunities, Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day provides an important reminder of the power of building and cultivating community," said Marissa Ditkowsky, Executive Director of the National Disabled Legal Professionals Association. "Our asks this Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day are the bare minimum: disabled women, particularly multiply marginalized disabled women, deserve joy. We deserve to thrive. And if we so choose, we deserve to find meaningful, competitive, and integrated employment that fulfills us and allows us to achieve economic prosperity."

"On behalf of the Equal Pay Today Coalition, we are grateful to Representatives Cherfilus-McCormick and Pressley for introducing the Disabled Women's Equal Pay Day Resolution," said Deborah J. Vagins, National Campaign Director, Equal Rights Advocates & Director of Equal Pay Today. "On this day, we raise awareness about the ableism, institutionalization, and workplace discrimination that has created barriers, trapping disabled women in poverty and perpetuating their egregious wage gaps. We must end segregated workplaces and subminimum wages, prevent draconian rules for public benefits, stop dismantling healthcare protections, and end the Trump Administration's baseless attacks on disabled workers' equal opportunities. All of these policy choices have forced many disabled women into poverty and drive one of the widest wage gaps experienced by women. It is time to end this disgrace."

The resolution is endorsed by the Democratic Women's Caucus, National Partnership for Women & Families, American Association of University Women (AAUW), Association of People Supporting EmploymentFirst (APSE), Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network, Disability Culture Lab (DCL), Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF), Equal Pay Today Coalition, Equal Rights Advocates, Institute for Women's Policy Research, Justice for Migrant Women, National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), National Disabled Legal Professionals Association, National Employment Law Project, National Women's Law Center Action Fund, and PowHer New York, A Better Balance, National Disability Institute.

A copy of the resolution can be found here.

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