I believe that keeping our families and economy strong begins with
providing our workers with a safe and healthy
workplace, opportunities to enhance their skills, and a guarantee of
basic rights on the job. That is why throughout my time in the U.S.
Senate I have stood up for the needs of working families in Washington
state and across the nation.
As Chairman of the Employment and Workplace Safety
Subcommittee of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP)
Committee, I have been able to take the lead on building a more
skilled workforce, protecting workers on the job, ensuring equal pay
and guaranteeing worker rights on the job.
I am also working to ensure that our workers have the
education and training they need to find family-wage jobs in our rapidly
changing economy. That is why I have focused my efforts on ensuring
that our workers are being trained with in-demand skills, are prepared
for the emerging green economy, and are on equal footing to fight for
jobs of the 21st global economy.
Priorities
- Equip workers with the skills they need to stay
competitive in the global economy.
- Ensure safe and healthy workplaces for every worker.
- Fight for fair and livable wages.
- Protect workers’ right to organize.
- Improve working families' ability to balance the
demands of work and life.
- Work to ensure trade agreements protect America’s jobs
and the middle class.
Accomplishments
- Worked to ensure our workforce is prepared for the
21st century by strengthening the Workforce Investment Act (WIA)
and furthering a Career
Pathways initiative.
- Worked hard to pass the Lily
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act in the 110th Congress and the 111th
Congress. President Obama signed this legislation - his first bill
signed into law on January 29, 2009.
- Introduced the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections
Act in the 111th Congress to ensure family medical paid leave for
pilots and flight crews. This bill was signed into law on December 21, 2009.
- Introduced legislation to invest in summer
employment for youth.
- Fought to improve safety of workers on the job and
to ensure the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
is working to protect workers.
- Passed legislation in the Senate to ban the
manufacturing and importation of products that contain asbestos.
- Helped pass the first increase in the minimum wage
in a decade.
- Fought for extensions of unemployment insurance
benefits to ensure workers affected by a slowing economy can stay
on their feet.
- Supported legislation to protect a worker’s right to
join or form a union and to engage in collective bargaining. Also supported legislation to expand these rights to public
employees.
- Worked for the passage of the Family Medical Leave
Act (FMLA) and supported legislation to expand FMLA’s
protections. Also supported legislation to guarantee paid
leave to workers.