Committee Dems Push Amendments to Protect American Workers and Jobs, Not Special Interests
WASHINGTON – House Education and the Workforce Committee Democrats today called on House Republicans to allow a full vote on amendments to ensure workers and jobs are protected from special interest legislation set to be debated this week. The Rules Committee will begin debate this afternoon on whether to allow any amendments to be offered to Republican legislation (H.R. 4078) that, if enacted, would block rules to protect workers from health and safety hazards and stymy agency-level efforts to protect American jobs.
“Washington Republicans are once again sending a clear message that special interests are more important than American workers’ lungs, limbs, lives and jobs,” said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the committee. “Our nation’s workers and their families deserve an open debate on the impact of this bill. I urge Republicans to join Democrats in allowing these important amendments an up-or-down vote on the House floor.”
Rep. Miller authored two amendments to allow health and safety officials to better protect miners from black lung disease and to prevent workplace combustible dust explosions.
Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), the senior Democratic member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, proposed two amendments that would allow agencies to continue to work on better rules designed to protect workers from electrocutions and efforts to extend Family and Medical Leave Act for military family members when a service member is injured or deployed overseas.
Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) offered an amendment to allow government agencies to continue efforts to fight outsourcing by encouraging the insourcing of American jobs.
Rep. Susan Davis (D-Calif.) authored an amendment that would allow government agencies to continue their efforts that encourage government contractors and subcontractors to recruit and hire veterans.
If signed into law, H.R. 4078 would stop these and many other efforts by government agencies to protect American workers and strengthen the middle class.
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