Happy Ledbetter Anniversary! Next Stop – Paycheck Fairness

By Fatima Goss Graves, Vice President for Education and Employment,
National Women's Law Center

Last week we paused at the Center to recognize the one-year anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the historic act that restored the law to ensure that workers would be able to vindicate their pay discrimination claims in court, by making it clear that each discriminatory paycheck is a new act of discrimination that resets the 180-day limit to file a claim. And there was certainly a lot to celebrate – as we’ve noted here, in the year since Congress passed the Ledbetter Act, straightforward fair pay claims have been restored in courts around the country. 

But in these economic times, we simply cannot afford to stop here. With women making up nearly half of all workers, ensuring that women receive fair pay is essential for them, their families, and the broader economy. 

And the Administration and Congress agree – last week the President established a National Equal Pay Enforcement Task Force and an Equal Pay Initiative to enhance compliance, public education, and enforcement of existing equal pay and other civil rights laws. In the same announcement the Administration reiterated its commitment to the Paycheck Fairness Act – a bill that would strengthen the Equal Pay Act and provide the government with additional tools to enhance enforcement of equal pay laws. 

As for Congress, the Paycheck Fairness Act has already passed the House and Senator Dodd announced last week that there will be hearings in the Senate HELP Committee in the next 4-6 weeks on the bill. Senator Reid recently emphasized that he’s ready to work with the Administration to “make this crucial legislation a reality.” 

All of this could not come a moment too soon. It looks like we all agree – the best way to mark the Ledbetter Anniversary is to keep working to address the wage gap.  Next stop – Paycheck Fairness!