Lilly Ledbetter on the Passage of the Fair Pay Act

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Lilly Ledbetter on the Passage of the Fair Pay Act
National Women's Law Center

For nearly 20 years, Lilly Ledbetter, of Jacksonville, Alabama, was paid less than her male co-workers. On January 22, 2009, the U.S. Senate finally passed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. We spoke to Lilly at the Capitol after the vote.

"Lilly, the bill just passed the Senate. How do you feel and who do you want to thank?"

"I am so excited, and I have so many people to thank because there are so many people who have worked on this bill from the House to the Senate to a lot of women's groups and organizations. And there have been a lot of men's groups that have worked on it because they realize that this is a family affair. If women are paid better, then they have better incomes in the family; it's a family affair, as well. I am so grateful that this was a bipartisan bill; that's the way that it started out, and that's the way it finally went through the House and the Senate, and I am so grateful for that."

President Barack Obama has pledged to sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act soon. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen! For more on pay equity and to find out how your Senators voted, go to www.nwlc.org/fairpay.