President Barack Obama today signed into law the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, legislation that repairs the damage done by the Supreme Court’s decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear. People For the American Way President Kathryn Kolbert was present at the signing, and issued the following statement:

“It was an extraordinary experience to be present for the signing of this bill, particularly because it was the first piece of legislation President Obama signed into law. Not only is this a crucial step towards equal treatment for women in the workplace, it’s a sign of things to come under the Obama Administration.

“In 2007, thanks to George Bush’s appointments, the Supreme Court severely hobbled workers’ ability to get an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our champions in the Congress and the support of President Obama, we’re back on the right track. There’s still much to be done to ensure that our country stays true to the values of the Constitution, including ensuring we have federal judges who respect the Constitution and its promise of equal justice for all. But I’m more optimistic than ever that we’ll be making great progress in the years to come.

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