Lilly Ledbetter Legislation President Obamas First Bill

By EMILY WEEPIE MAY 25, 2016

WASHINGTON- President Obama began his speech on the morning of January 29, 2009 by
starting with, It is fitting that with the very first bill I sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay
Restoration Act we are upholding one of this nations first principles: that we are all created
equal and each deserve a chance to pursue our own version of happiness.
This comes 46 years after the Equal Pay Act was signed by President Kennedy in 1963. The
Equal Pay Act made it illegal to discriminate against someone based on gender, however, the
actions to be taken made it difficult and confusing for those who were discriminated against to
receive reimbursement.
This primarily applied to white women without intersectionality.
The bill was brought up in congress originally in 2007, but had no support from president Bush.
The Bush administration heavily favored big businesses, as well as sheltering them from
impending laws such as the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. He openly said he would veto the bill if
it was presented to him.
Lilly Ledbetter worked at Goodyear Tires for almost 20 years, unaware that her male co-workers
had been making significantly more than her. She had the same job description and same
qualifications. One of her co-workers gave her an anonymous note explaining this to her, which
led her to bring her case to the supreme court.
The Supreme Court reviewed her case and determined that her appeal for reimbursement was too
late, one of the many loopholes in the Equal Pay Act signed into law by the Kennedy
administration. 180 days after receiving the initial paycheck was the cut off for filing suit.
The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act addresses this loophole, changing the reimbursement period
from 180 days after the initial paycheck, to 180 days after the latest paycheck. Today, this act
applies to all women, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, age or religion.
The first bill that President Obama signed into law was the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
Ledbetter said, I think it says something about his priorities that the first bill he put his name on
has my name on it too. As he said that day with me by his side, 'Making our economy work
means making sure it works for everyone.'