NEWTON, PA − May 18, 2026 − Senate Democratic Policy Committee Chair Nick Miller (D-14) hosted a policy hearing on Equal Pay in Pennsylvania with Senators Steve Santarsiero and Maria Collett. The hearing focused on the pay gap in the Commonwealth, driven by factors such as occupational segregation, bias against working mothers, and direct wage discrimination. To address these inequities, Senators Santarsiero and Collett have introduced Senate Bill 889, which aims to strengthen equal pay protections and promote fair compensation for all Pennsylvanians.
“Today, we heard firsthand how pay disparities continue to impact workers across Pennsylvania and why action is urgently needed,” 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 fairer workforce. We must continue advancing legislation that promotes transparency, accountability, and fair compensation for all workers.”
“Pennsylvania families are working harder than ever to keep up with the cost of living,” said Senator Collett. “But for too many workers, especially women, and especially women of color, that effort is undermined before they even cash their paycheck. When Pennsylvania women earn 79 cents for every dollar paid to men, that is more than $10,000 a year that families cannot put toward rent, groceries, childcare, or a savings account. Senator Santarsiero and I have introduced SB 889 every session since 2018. Today’s hearing, featuring testimony from the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Women’s Law Project, and K&L Gates, added to an already overwhelming record. It is time to pass this bill and make sure every Pennsylvanian earns what their work is actually worth.”
“SB 889, Modernizing Pennsylvania’s Equal Pay Law, which I co-prime sponsored with Senator Maria Collett, would right a deeply unfair fact in our state,” said Senator Santarsiero. “Women in Pennsylvania earn 79 cents for every dollar paid to men, amounting to a gap of over $10,000 a year. This is an issue we must move on in Pennsylvania. When an employee works hard and follows the rules, they should earn the same amount as their colleagues for doing the same job, full stop.”
Tracy Lawless, Government Affairs Counselor of K&L Gates, spoke on the significant impact of proposed legislation heard today.
“In many workplaces, employees may fear retribution when inquiring about wages, which perpetuates a culture of secrecy and inequality,” said Lawless. “By explicitly safeguarding workers in this regard, Senate Bill 889 empowers employees to advocate for themselves and ensures that wages are determined based on bona fide factors such as experience, education, and merit, rather than on discriminatory practices.”
Catherine Walters, Chair of Labor & Employment Law Section at PA Bar Association, testified how women in the workforce are being affected with the drastic changes at the federal level.
“With all of the drastic changes at the federal level and their negative impact on women in the workforce, it has become apparent that women can no longer rely on the federal government to take, or at least maintain, steps that supported wage growth for women in the past,” said Walters. “As a result, the states, including Pennsylvania, must step into that void and provide more support for their female workforce to counter the impact of federal directives.”
Brenda Harkavy of the PA Bar Association emphasized the urgency of updating the Pennsylvania Equal Pay Law. When it was last amended, fewer than 37 percent of working-age women were in the labor force and most married women stayed home. Today, women make up about 57 percent of the labor force and represent roughly half of the U.S. workforce and 47 percent of Pennsylvania’s.
“At the current rate of progress, Pennsylvania women are not projected to achieve pay equity until 2072,” said Harkavy. “Most American women are projected to achieve pay equity by 2058. Pennsylvania is therefore more than a decade behind the national projection. An entire generation of young women in the Commonwealth would live their full working lives without equal pay if the existing statute is not amended.”
Testifiers for the hearing included:
- Families Effected by Hit and Runs
- K&L Gates
- PA Bar Association
Senator Nick Miller was elected Policy Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus in December 2024.
Footage of the hearing, as well as the written testimony of the panel, is available at PASenatorMiller.com/Policy. Photographs and downloadable videos are available upon request.
Learn more about the PA Senate Democrats commitment to protecting our commonwealth’s healthcare needs and other legislative priorities at www.pasenate.com.
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