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GUEST: Fatima Gross Graves, Senior Counsel for Education and Employment at the National Women’s Law Center

Yesterday, April 22nd, was Equal Pay Day, marking the date in the year when the average American woman has earned as much income during the past 16 months as the average American man did during the previous year. Fittingly, the US Senate is considering a bill this week that could eliminate the 180-day limit for women to file pay discrimination claims against their employers. That limit was set in a Supreme Court ruling last year against Lily Ledbetter, an Alabama woman who sued her employer, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. for paying her significantly less than her male counterparts. But the House of Representatives passed a bill overturning the technicality on which her case was struck down. Now the Senate faces a parallel bill. On average, American women make just 77 cents to the male dollar. The numbers are worse for African American women who make 63 cents, and Latinas who make only 52 cents to the male dollar. Even though the Fair Pay Restoration Act looks likely to pass the Senate, unsurprisingly President Bush has promised to veto the bill.

For more information, and to contact your senator, visit www.nwlc.org/fairpay/.