(Washington, DC) Today, in his first bill-signing, President Obama signed the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act into law.  The legislation, which was co-sponsored in the last Congress by Congressman John Yarmuth (KY-3) will begin to close the gender pay gap in this country by reversing a Supreme Court decision that has prevented workers from pursuing pay discrimination claims.

“I commend President Obama for moving quickly to protect all workers from discrimination in the work place,” Congressman Yarmuth said.  “American families are struggling to make ends meet, and this makes clear that bigotry and prejudice will not stand in the way of a citizen’s right to earn a fair wage.”

The new law overturns a 2007 Supreme Court decision (Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co.) that ruled that workers cannot bring a wage discrimination lawsuit more than 180 days after the first discriminatory act.  The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act protects workers who file claims of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, age, or disability.