Paycheck Fairness and Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Acts

Rep. Johnson Votes for Paycheck Fairness and Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Acts

Measures ensure equal pay for women

As one of the first measures passed by the House in the 111th Congress, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) voted today to approve two pieces of legislation that will help end the discriminatory practice of paying men and women unequally for performing the same job.

"In this great country, it is unconscionable that employers would be able to get away with paying women less for the same job," said Rep. Johnson. "These are important pieces of legislation that I am proud to support. I hope they will soon be signed into law."

The House passed the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 12), introduced by Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, introduced by Rep. George Miller of California (H.R. 11). Although the wage gap between men and women has narrowed since the passage of the landmark Equal Pay Act in 1963, gender-based wage discrimination remains a problem for women in the U.S. workforce. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make only seventy-eight (78 cents) for every dollar earned by a man. The Institute of Women's Policy Research found that this wage disparity will, over a lifetime cost women anywhere from $400,000 to $2 million in lost wages.

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