; Whereas sex discrimination in education, hiring, and promotion has played a role in maintaining a workforce segregated by sex; Whereas sex-based wage differentials— (1) depress employee wages and living standards necessary for their health and well-being; (2) reduce family incomes and contribute to the higher poverty rates among women and their families; and (3) prevent the effective and maximum utilization of available labor resources; Whereas a wage gap exists in nearly every occupational field but opening traditionally male jobs to women and reducing occupational segregation by sex increases earnings for women; Whereas as much as 38 percent of the wage gap is unexplained by observable factors such as variation in educational attainment, industry and occupation, and may reflect discrimination; Whereas two-thirds of private sector workers report that employers either prohibit or discourage them from discussing their pay, which can keep the existence of pay discrimination hidden and prevent remedying that discrimination; Whereas nearly two-thirds of workers paid the minimum wage or less are women and the concentration of women in low-wage jobs is a significant contributor to the wage gap; Whereas the lack of family-friendly policies, such as access to affordable, quality childcare, paid family and medical leave, and fair and predictable work schedules, forces many caregivers to choose between providing for their families financially and ensuring their loved ones receive quality care, and contributes to the wage gap; Whereas women hold two-thirds of outstanding student loan debt, totaling over $800,000,000,000, and are less likely to be able to pay off their student loan debt promptly due to wage disparities; Whereas equal pay strengthens the economic security of families and enhances retirement savings; Whereas when women are paid fairly, families are stronger, businesses prosper, and American values and the economy are strengthened