[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 128 (Saturday, August 4, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1776]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1776]]
                  LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2007

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 2831, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007, which will correct 
a gross injustice done in the recent Supreme Court decision in the case 
Ledbetter v. Goodyear.
  The Supreme Court's May 29, 2007, ruling in Ledbetter reversed 
decades of precedent that helped victims of pay discrimination to 
pursue claims against their employers. Under Title VII of the Civil 
Rights Act of 1964, employees illegally discriminated against in pay 
can file claims to recoup that pay within 180 days of being wrongfully 
denied pay. Unfortunately, the Ledbetter decision concluded that 
victims need to file claims within 180 days of a discriminatory 
decision being made, rather than within 180 days of receiving a 
discriminatory paycheck, as previous jurisprudence had mandated.
  It is wholly unreasonable to require individuals who are 
discriminated against to file suit within 180 days of the illegal 
action. Workplace norms mean that co-workers rarely ask each other 
about their pay. Moreover, one relatively small discriminatory decision 
can compound over time, meaning that decisions that are not immediately 
obvious can nevertheless have profound impacts over the course of an 
employee's career.
  Congress recognized 43 years ago with the passage of the Civil Rights 
Act of 1964 that it is wrong to treat people differently on the basis 
of their gender, religion or the color of their skin. The decision in 
Ledbetter v. Goodyear effectively eliminates the primary remedy for 
thousands of Americans who face illegal and immoral discrimination.
  The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act provides a straightforward and 
efficient solution for the mistaken decision in Ledbetter. This bill 
simply clarifies that each discriminatory paycheck qualifies as a new 
violation that gives employees 180 days to file claims to recover pay. 
This policy has been the law of the land for the last 43 years, has 
worked well and should be reinstated.
  For over four decades, the United States Federal Government has made 
it clear that discrimination on the basis of one's race, gender, or 
religion will not be tolerated. It is our responsibility to do 
everything in our power to ensure that all employees are treated fairly 
and respectfully, and this bill is an important step forward in that 
direction. I am proud to be a co-sponsor of this legislation and I 
commend my colleague and friend, Mr. George Miller of California, for 
introducing the bill.

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