FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Women's Leader Applauds Introduction of Ledbetter Companion Bill, Urges Congress to Remove Cap on Damages

Statement of Debra L. Ness, President, National Partnership for Women & Families on the Introduction of the 'Equal Remedies Act of 2007'

WASHINGTON, DC — August 1, 2007 — "The Equal Remedies Act of 2007 introduced today is a crucial step to bring fairness to America’s workers.  This bill addresses the pressing need to ensure fair remedies to all victims of intentional employment discrimination. 

Many women successfully prove discrimination only to have the remedies that were awarded by a jury reduced to comply with the law’s cap on damages indeed, Lilly Ledbetter’s award was cut by 90% to conform with the caps.  The existing limits on damages let employers cynically calculate discrimination as a cost of doing business because they know their liability will be limited no matter how glaring the violation.  Lifting the caps on compensatory and punitive damages would help protect workers like Lilly Ledbetter from egregious wage discrimination by sending a strong message that discrimination will not be tolerated.

This bill is critical to help guarantee equal employment opportunity and ensure that all workers are paid fairly for their work.  We thank Senators Edward Kennedy (D-MA), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), Russ Feingold (D-WI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Patty Murray (D-WA), and Barack Obama (D-IL) for introducing the Equal Remedies Act and urge the Senate to pass this legislation quickly."