; 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 the lack of family-friendly policies, such as access to affordable, quality childcare, paid family and medical leave, paid sick days, 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 1 in 3 women have been on the receiving end of sexual harassment during their careers, and an estimated 87 to 94 percent of those who experience sexual harassment never file a formal complaint; Whereas workplace harassment forces many women to leave their occupation or industry, or pass up opportunities for advancement, and this contributes to the gender wage gap; 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; Whereas, if women in the United States received equal pay comparable with men, poverty for working women would be reduced by half, and the economy would add $5,120,000,000 annually, based on a 2017 analysis; Whereas the economic fallout from the COVID–19 pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on women and women of color, with women losing the majority of jobs lost since March 2020; Whereas, since women earn less on average than their male partners, 3 times more women than men have left the workforce to look after their children who are learning from home; Whereas women and women of color are now experiencing the lowest rates of employment in decades