Duckworth Statement on the 7th Anniversary of President Obama Signing Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Into Law

Statement

On the seventh anniversary of President Obama signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) released the following statement:

"In 1963 when President Kennedy signed the Equal Pay Act into law, he did so with the knowledge that America should treat all people equally. Seven years ago, President Obama followed in his footsteps by signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law, which lifted limitations preventing victims of gender discrimination in the workplace from getting their day in court.

"But "equal pay for equal work' is still not a reality for women in our country who still earn just 79 cents for every dollar their male counterparts earn. In Illinois, women make $12,000 less each year than men. While we have made progress since 1963, we still have a lot of work to do to achieve economic equality for women and their families.

"I am a proud cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would protect women who stand up for equal pay from retaliation and encourage employers to finally close the wage gap. I hope Congress acts swiftly to pass this important legislation and give every American the opportunity to earn equal pay for equal work.

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