WASHINGTON - January 9 - Today, as one of its first orders of business, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed H.R. 11, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, and H.R. 12, the Paycheck Fairness Act - a pay equity legislative package that helps employees to combat wage discrimination. The vote counts were 247-171 and 256-163, respectively. The ACLU urges swift action on these bills in the Senate. 

The following can be attributed to Caroline Fredrickson, director of ACLU Washington Legislative Office:  

"By passing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act together in the first week of session, the House has generated real momentum for change. Today's vote on the two pay equity bills is a concrete step forward for wage discrimination safeguards after the unwarranted rollbacks of basic wage protections. 

"The Senate should pick up the pay equity baton and pass these important bills. In this time of economic belt-tightening, American workers depend on bringing home every dollar that they rightfully earn. This historic House vote should signal to senators that the American people overwhelming want to achieve basic pay fairness for all."  

For more information about the pay equity legislative package, go to http:/www.aclu.org/womensrights/employ/38239leg20090106.html