MEDIA RELEASE

On the anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, Senator Brian Schatz urges Congress to act now and pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which is common sense legislation that would require women to be paid the same as men for the same job.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 is the first piece of legislation signed by President Obama during his first term and takes steps towards eliminating pay discrimination on the basis of gender.

“Today marks the anniversary of a critical piece of legislation that ensures that women all over the country are entitled to the same rights as men in the workplace. It is an economic imperative that we take further steps to ensure that every woman is paid the same as a man for the exact same job. I applaud President Obama for taking steps to eliminate pay discrimination during his first term, but we must do more. Fair is fair, and equal pay for equal work is a common sense concept. It’s time for my colleagues in Congress to enter the 21st century and support the Paycheck Fairness Act to ensure that women can bring home full paychecks to support their families. We must put politics aside and do what is right for every middle-class family in this country.”