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 Proc. 7306 Title 3--The President older, and it is widest for women of color. African American women earn 64 cents for every dollar earned by white men, and Hispanic women earn lust 55 cents. While some of these disparities can be attributed to dif- ferences in education, experience, and occupation--which themselves often reflect troubling inequities--several studies confirm that a significant pay gap persists even after we account for these factors. My Administration has worked hard to ensure that every American is treat- ed with fairness and dignity in the workplace, and this year I proposed a $27 million equal pay initiative in my fiscal year 2001 budget to combat unfair pay practices against women. This initiative includes $10 million in funding for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to identify more quickly and respond more effectively to wage discrimination. The initiative would also enable the EEOC to launch a public service cam- paign to educate employees and employers about their rights and respon- sibilities under equal pay laws. In addition, the initiative includes funding for the Department of Labor to train women for lobs they have not tradi- tionally held, such as those in the high-paying technology sector, and to help employers recruit and train qualified women for nontraditional occu- pations. I have also urged the Congress to strengthen existing wage discrimination laws by promptly passing the Paycheck Fairness Act. This proposed legisla- tion would provide increased penalties for equal pay violations; prohibit employers from punishing employees who share salary information with coworkers; and provide funding for research on wage discrimination and for increased training for EEOC employees who work on wage discrimina- tion cases. Throughout the decades, working women have persevered in their struggle for equal pay, buoyed by an unshakable faith in their own skills and self- worth and a firm commitment to the ideals of our democracy. On National Equal Pay Day, I urge all Americans to join the crusade to secure equal pay for women and to create a just and honorable work environment in which all our citizens are rewarded fairly for their talents, experience, and con- tributions. NOW, THEREFORE, I, WILLIAM 1. CLINTON, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitu- tion and laws of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 11, 2000, as National Equal Pay Day. I call upon government officials, law en- forcement agencies, business leaders, educators, and the American people to recognize the full value of the skills and contributions of women in the labor force. I urge all employers to review their wage practices and ensure that all their employees are paid equitably for their work. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and twenty-fourth. WILLIAM J. CLINTON 78

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