Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Terri A. Sewell (D-AL) released the following statement in recognition of the fourth anniversary of the enactment of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act:

“Today we celebrate the tireless efforts of Alabama’s own Lilly Ledbetter, a humble activist who has boldly fought to ensure that our mothers, daughters and granddaughters are equally paid for the work they do regardless of race, age or gender. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first bill signed into law by President Obama in January of 2009, was critical to restoring the rights of women and other workers so they could fight discrimination and go to court to get equal pay for equal work.

While great strides have been made in gender equality, we still have much work to do. Women still earn on average just 77 cents for every dollar men make. The wage disparity is even more pronounced for minority women as African American women earn just 64 cents every dollar earned by white males and Hispanic women earn just 55 cents per dollar.

We must continue to fight discrimination anywhere it exists and to do more to level the playing field so all Americans can provide for their families. I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and the administration as we continue to build on Lilly Ledbetter’s work with the Paycheck Fairness Act and break through the glass ceiling.”

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Contact: Rob NeSmith;       rob.nesmith@mail.house.gov;     202.225.2665