WASHINGTON - January 22 - Today, by a vote of 61 to 36, the Senate passed S. 181, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, a bill that clarifies the legal time limits for employees to fight pay discrimination. The American Civil Liberties Union applauded passage of the bill without any amendments, which would have weakened employee safeguards.

"Senate passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act advances the case for equal pay for equal work," said Caroline Fredrickson, director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Today we are a little closer to restoring the right of employees to challenge pay disparities that was practically eliminated by the Supreme Court ruling in the Ledbetter v. Goodyear case. Fortunately, the Senate defeated amendments that would have left many victims of pay discrimination without justice."

ACLU Legislative Counsel Deborah J. Vagins added, "The Senate has rightfully recognized that, as long as an employee brings home a paycheck lessened by discrimination, she should also have the ability to have her day in court. The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act is the only bill that fixes the full extent of the problem caused by the Ledbetter decision. We applaud the Senate for rejecting these amendments and look forward to President Obama swiftly signing this bill."

For the ACLU's letter to the Senate, go to: http://www.aclu.org/womensrights/employ/38326leg20090114.html