U.S. Rep. Harry Teague isn’t the only new New Mexico congressman to come out of the gate flying. Fellow New Mexico Democratic Rep. Martin Heinrich also co-sponsored some legislation on his first official day in office.

Heinrich cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act and the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009.

“It’s a disgrace that a woman only makes 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Especially in these tough economic times, we must do all we can to ensure true economic equality,” said Heinrich in a statement.

The Paycheck Fairness Act will “strengthen the Equal Pay Act and close the loopholes that have allowed employers to avoid responsibility for discriminatory pay.”

The legislation is sponsored by Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and has 175 cosponsors signed on.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fairpay Act of 2009 “is a direct response to the United States Supreme Court’s 2007 decision, Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which held that Lily Ledbetter could not receive appropriate damages for years of gender-based pay discrimination despite the fact that Ledbetter filed a charge with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission as soon as she learned of the disparity.”

The Lilly Ledbetter Fairpay Act is a priority for the Barack Obama administration and many in Congress. The New York Times writes:

President-elect Barack Obama and Democrats in Congress are planning swift action to overturn a Supreme Court decision that made it much harder for people to challenge discrimination in employment, education, housing and other fields.

The New York Times notes the Supreme Court decision was used as justification for discrimination beyond gender discrimination.

“It’s incredibly unfair that victims of gender pay discrimination should be punished for not knowing they were being discriminated against,” stated Heinrich. “Everyone deserves fair treatment in the workplace and this bill restores that right.”

Last year, the bill passed the House, but failed by three votes in the U.S. Senate to reach 60 votes. With new Democratic senators, including Sen. Tom Udall, coming in to office, Senate Democrats are confident it will pass without much trouble.

Former Rep. Heather Wilson, an Albuquerque Republican and Heinrich’s predecessor, voted against the bill. Udall voted for the bill while in the House. Ex-Sen. Pete Domenici, Udall’s predecessor, voted against the bill in the Senate.