Dear Friends,
In 1979, a woman named in Lilly Ledbetter, the wife of an Army veteran and the mother of two daughters began work at a tire manufacturing plant in Alabama. She worked on the night shift from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. as a supervisor and was one of just a few female managers. When she retired twenty years later, Lilly was making $599 a month less than the lowest paid male manager and $1509 a month less than highest paid male manager. Determined to right this wrong, she made her case in court, only to ultimately have a decision in her favor overturned by the Supreme Court.
One of the first votes I cast in 2009 was for the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act to help close the income gap between women and men. One year ago, this bill was signed into law with Lilly present at the ceremony. It was a historic and moving day.
Fair treatment for everyone in the workplace is critically important to me. Unfortunately, across our country there are still too many women like Lilly Ledbetter - hardworking women - mothers, sisters, and daughters, who provide for their families and want nothing more for their hours than to receive equal pay for equal work. Thanks to Lilly's courage and the Fair Pay Act we are one step closer to making that a reality.
We still have work to do. Women are making only 81 percent as much as men. At the end of 2009, women made an average of $670 per week while men made an average of $825 per week. We need to leave a better legacy for our daughters and future generations.
When my daughter, Windy, was growing up she loved solving puzzles, but hated math because she felt overshadowed by her math and science oriented brothers. My wife, Mary, and I, continually encouraged her to develop her math skills. Today, she has the equivalent of a master’s degree in statistics and is working toward a PhD in neuroscience where she uses complex calculations daily. I want to make sure that she, and all children in our country, has every opportunity to succeed.
The changes we’re making today will strengthen future generations. Thank you for standing with me and for a better America.
Sincerely,
Jerry
Congressman Jerry McNerney
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