NEWTON, PA – May 18, 2026 – Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chairman Nick Miller (D-14) hosted a policy hearing on pay equity in Pennsylvania with Senators Steve Santarsiero and Maria Collett. The hearing focused on wage disparities in the commonwealth resulting from factors such as occupational segregation, bias against working mothers and direct wage discrimination. To address these inequities, Senators Santarsiero and Collett introduced Senate Bill 889, which aims to strengthen equal pay protections and promote fair pay for all Pennsylvanians.
“Today we heard firsthand how pay disparities continue to impact workers across Pennsylvania and why action is urgently needed,” she said Senator Miller. “Women in Pennsylvania earn just 80.91 cents for every dollar earned by men, ranking our Commonwealth 34th in the nation for gender pay equity. Equal pay means stronger families, greater economic security and a more equitable workforce. We must continue to advance legislation that promotes transparency, accountability and fair pay for all workers.”
“Pennsylvania families are working harder than ever to keep up with the cost of living,” it said Senator Collett. “But for too many workers, especially women, and especially women of color, that effort is thwarted before they even cash their paychecks. When Pennsylvania women earn 79 cents for every dollar paid to men, that’s more than $10,000 a year that families can’t spare for rent, groceries, child care or a savings account. Senator Santarsiero and I have introduced SB 889 every session since 2018. Today’s hearing includes testimony from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Women’s Law Project, and K&L Gates added to an already overwhelming record. It’s time to pass this bill and make sure every Pennsylvanian earns what their work is worth.
“SB 889, Modernizing Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Act, which I co-sponsor with Senator Maria Collett, would right a profound injustice in our state,” she said Senator Santarsiero. “Women in Pennsylvania earn 79 cents for every dollar paid to men, a difference of over $10,000 a year. In Pennsylvania, we must address this issue. When an employee works hard and plays by the rules, he or she should be paid the same as his or her male colleagues for doing the same job, period.”
Tracy Lawless, government affairs advisor at K&L Gates, spoke about the significant impact of the proposed legislation we heard about today.
“In many workplaces, employees may fear retaliation when they ask about pay, perpetuating a culture of secrecy and inequality,” Lawless said. “By expressly protecting workers in this regard, Senate Bill 889 empowers workers to advocate for themselves and ensures that wages are determined based on bona fide factors such as experience, education and merit, rather than discriminatory practices.”
Catherine Walters, chair of the Labor and Employment Law Section at the PA Bar Association, testified about how drastic changes at the federal level affect working women.
“With all the drastic changes at the federal level and their negative impact on women in the workforce, it has become clear that women can no longer rely on the federal government to take, or at least maintain, steps that have historically supported women’s wage growth,” Walters said. “As a result, states, including Pennsylvania, must step into this void and provide greater support for their women to counter the effects of federal directives.”
Brenda Harkavy of the PA Bar Association emphasized the urgent need to update Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Act. At the time of the last amendment, less than 37 percent of working-age women were in the labor force, and most married women stayed at home. Women currently make up approximately 57 percent of the workforce and make up roughly half of the U.S. workforce and 47 percent of the Pennsylvania workforce.
“At the current rate of progress, Pennsylvania women are not expected to achieve pay equity before 2072,” Harkavy said. “The majority of American women are projected to achieve pay equity by 2058. Pennsylvania is therefore more than a decade behind national projections. An entire generation of young women in the commonwealth would live their entire working lives without equal pay if existing statutes are not changed.”
Testimony at the hearing were:
- Families affected by hit and runs
- K&L gates
- PA Bar Association
Senator Nick Miller was elected political chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024.
Video footage of the hearing and written testimony from the panel is available at: PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Downloadable photos and videos are available upon request.
Learn more about AP Senate Democrats’ commitment to protecting our Commonwealth’s health care needs and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
####
