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Labor
"El Paso is home to some of the hardest working people in the country. I will continue to bring new employment opportunities to El Paso and to fight for strong worker protections and better pay." -Congressman Silvestre Reyes
Congressman Reyes is focused on efforts strengthening our middle class and ensuring fair treatment for those who work for a living. Creating and maintaining good jobs in El Paso is critical to working families and to the long-term future of our region.
As a former member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and a champion of labor rights, Congressman Reyes frequently meets with labor leaders in El Paso and participates annually in the Labor Day breakfast hosted by community union leaders. Additionally, he works to bring national labor leaders to the border region. Most recently, Reyes hosted U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis in El Paso at a roundtable with workforce and small business leaders to discuss both initiatives that are working to create jobs in El Paso and to provide input on areas where additional effort is needed.
Fair Pay for Working Families
Congressman Reyes has been an advocate for an increase in the federal minimum wage, the first in over ten years, from $5.15 to $7.25. Increasing the base wage benefits 13 million Americans who earn minimum wage, including over 10,000 El Pasoans.
Congressman Reyes supported the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act which will ensure that victims of pay discrimination are treated fairly, and he supports the Paycheck Fairness Act which would make important steps to halt gender inequality in the workplace.
Preparing Workers for Better Jobs
Congressman Reyes supports critical programs such as Job Corps, Head Start, and other training programs under the Worker Investment Act which have been targeted by House of Representatives Republicans for deep cuts.
Recovery Act Programs - Congressman Reyes supported the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, landmark legislation that included significant investments in work training and education programs. Investments included, $53.6 billion to help states prevent cutbacks and layoffs as well as funds to modernize schools and shovel ready projects. In Texas alone, an estimated 269,000 jobs are estimated to have been saved or created in 2009 and 2010.
The legislation included millions for job training, matching, and preparation programs as well as youth services, subsidies and extensions for COBRA insurance premiums, and funds to extend and increase unemployment benefits for people in El Paso. Congressman Reyes also supported a new tax credit called the “Making Work Pay Tax Cut that provided up to $800 for over 8 million Texas workers and their families, designed to start paying out immediately into workers' paychecks.
Improving the Federal Civil Service System
Congressman Reyes, a former federal employee, led efforts in the Armed Services Committee and the Intelligence Committee to restore labor rights for federal employees, which eroded under the Bush Administration and the Republican-led Congress. He worked to pass legislation that restored collective bargaining rights and access to an appeals system for employees of the Department of Defense and revised the A-76 public-private competition process for the Department of Defense to restore balance and fairness. Congressman Reyes also sponsored and passed legislation in the House to halt disruptive changes to the civil service system for Intelligence Community employees until the Administration can demonstrate it has procedures for employee appeals and protections.
Press Releases
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Reyes optimistic about El Paso and country's economy, unemployment rate down to 8.3 percent in the country
2.4.2012
Press Releases
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Reyes Defends Federal Employees
2.1.2012
Press Releases
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Congressman Reyes House Floor Speech 'Holiday Reminder'
12.20.2011
News Articles
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Alliance continues work for border
2.27.2011
News Articles
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Federal stimulus money to help many train for green jobs
1.7.2010
More Documents...
Related Files:
Open Letter to Federal Employees
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