Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act Of 2007

Floor Speech

LILLY LEDBETTER FAIR PAY ACT OF 2007 -- (Extensions of Remarks - August 04, 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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