[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E170]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                               SPEECH OF

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, January 27, 2009

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 181, the Lilly 
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
  The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is critical in the struggle for 
financial equality. Even in 2009 women still on average earn 78 cents 
for every dollar earned by their male counterparts in a nation where 41 
percent of women are the sole income providers for their families. 
Economic equality is not an issue that should be based on gender but on 
fairness and the quality of ones hard work. The Supreme Court Case of 
Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., by the narrow 5-4 vote, 
greatly impaired the ability of women and others to challenge pay 
discrimination. The passage and enactment of this act will restore 
prior longstanding law which will enable women and others to challenge 
instances of pay discrimination within 180 days of a discriminatory pay 
check. For too long women have performed the same tasks and have been 
unequally compensated. Unequal pay is not merely a women's issue but a 
disparity that affects all of us.
  Though there is still more work to be done in the fight for equality 
this legislation is an important step.

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