On H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act

January 9, 2009

I am pleased to rise today to join with my colleagues in passing H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. 

Ms. Ledbetter worked at Goodyear for over 19 years, retiring as a supervisor in 1998.  Unbeknownst to Ms. Ledbetter during her time at Goodyear she earned 20 percent less in salary and a smaller pension than the lowest-paid male supervisor. While a jury found in Ms. Ledbetter’s favor, agreeing that she had been discriminated against and awarding her $3.8 million in back pay, the Supreme Court did not agree. 

In 2007, the Supreme Court overturned this decision finding that Ms. Ledbetter made her claim too late.  This decision ignored the fact that Ms. Ledbetter filed her charge within 180 days of a discriminatory paycheck from Goodyear, which is in line with the 180 days requirement under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act.

Today this Congress has an opportunity to pass this legislation that will not only help Lilly Ledbetter recover the wages she rightly deserved, but it will ensure that the women who come after Ms. Ledbetter will not have to suffer her same fate.  Under this bill every paycheck or other compensation that is discriminatory in nature would restart the clock for filing a charge.  Furthermore, it entitles employers up to two years of back pay, unlike the 180 days of back pay given to Ms. Ledbetter.

We are also voting on the Paycheck Fairness Act today.  I am a longtime strong supporter of this legislation, which strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and closes the loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay. 

As a husband, father, and grandfather, I am appalled that in this day and age women are still fighting for an equal paycheck.  We know that on average women earn 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man.  This pay discrimination has cost women thousands of dollars in lost wages over their lifetime, which results in many women not only living paycheck-to-paycheck, but also neglecting to properly save for their retirement.

In addition to voting in support of these to bills today, Representative Carolyn Maloney and I are reintroducing our bill to establish a Center for the Study of Women and Workplace Policy.  The Center would compile and analyze data on the differences between the earning of men and women and to identify factors which affect those differences.  The Center would also publish their results in the form of a "Best Practices Guide" for businesses containing guidelines to promote workplace equity, retaining women in the workplace and promoting a family friendly workplace.   

During today’s economy more and more families are relying on two paychecks to put dinner on the table, buy school supplies for their children or visit the doctor. A smaller paycheck not only hurts female employees who deserve proper compensation, but the families they also must provide for.  I urge my colleagues to join with me in supporting both these bills.  A vote in favor of these bills will go a long way in ensuring our daughters and granddaughters are treated as equals in the workplace.