Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Director Jennifer Klein at the 15th Anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
Thank you, Mayor Benjamin, we are so glad you are here with us today.
And thank you to everyone here today for being here to join us in celebration of the 15th anniversary of the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. From the trailblazers and champions responsible for getting this bill across the finish line 15 years ago, to today’s equal pay advocates crucial to building support for new policies, to the agency partners in the room who have diligently enforced equal pay regulations and implemented new policing tackling pay disparities.
Before Lilly Ledbetter became a household name, she was a supervisor at Goodyear Tire and Rubber’s plant in Gadsden, Alabama. And one day, thanks to an anonymous note, she discovered that she, like far too many other women, was getting paid less than the men in her workplace for the same work.
Lilly went on to fight this injustice all the way to the Supreme Court.
And when the Court didn’t rule in her favor, she didn’t give up. She took to the halls of Congress, became a staunch advocate and a powerful voice for legislation on pay equity.
And thanks to her work, fifteen years ago today, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act became the law of the land – a landmark victory in the fight for equal pay.
Thanks to Lilly and her bravery, and the bravery and tenacity of so many other advocates, some of whom are sitting in this room with us here today, we have made historic progress narrowing the racial and gender wage gaps that have for too long disadvantaged women, particularly women of color.
Despite these strides, we all know that the fight for equal pay continues. This Administration is committed to doing what we can to close persistent wage gaps. And we remain committed to building on the promise of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to ensure all people are paid fairly for their work.
I am honored to now introduce, Lilly Ledbetter…