WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama says there's more to do to ensure equal pay for women despite the efforts he's taken as president.
Obama was pressing for more protections to close the gender pay gap during a White House event marking the seventh anniversary of signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. The legislation was the first that Obama signed after becoming president.
Obama says ensuring equal pay will be "a long haul." He says more must be done to get women into high-paying jobs in science, technology, math and engineering. He's calling on businesses to ensure women aren't penalized for starting a family and says men have responsibility for parenting, too.
Obama also announced his administration is expanding a data collection program aimed at ferreting out abuses of equal pay laws.
– by AP Reporter Josh Lederman
