Labor

Ensuring that employees have strong protections in the workforce is one of my top priorities. That’s why, as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, I have been fighting for America’s working families.

SUPPORTING WORKING FAMILIES:

• We must ensure that the American Dream is a reality for everyone by supporting policies that help create well-paying jobs and support families.  That’s why I’ve introduced H.R. 2346, The Balancing Act of 2011.  Among other things, this legislation would extend Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits to part-time workers and provide incentives to employers to allow parents to work from home.  During the 111^th Congress, as Chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, I held a series of hearings on balancing work and family. 
• Providing leave for workers recovering from domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking is necessary so that those who have suffered abuse have time to recover both physically and emotionally without losing the job that supports them and their family.  Currently, FMLA allows employees to take unpaid leave from work for birth, adoption, caring for children and other benefits, but it does not provide this option for domestic violence victims or their families.  Legislation that I’ve introduced, H.R. 3151, The Domestic Violence Leave Act, would amend the FMLA to allow employees that are victims of domestic violence to take leave.
• Increasing the minimum wage and strengthening unions are some of the best ways we can support workers.  In 2007, Congress passed, with my support, a long overdue increase in the minimum wage making it $7.25 per hour.  While this was a step in the right direction, the minimum wage is still far too low to provide a living wage and bring workers out of poverty.  I also support legislation, known as the Employee Free Choice Act, making it easier for workers to form unions.
• Families of service members injured in armed conflicts may need leave from work to care for their loved ones.  That’s why, in the 110^th Congress, I introduced legislation which amended the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide military family members up to twelve weeks of unpaid leave from their jobs for matters related to deployment of a loved one and up to six months of unpaid leave to care for injured service members.  I am proud that my proposal was signed into law in January 2008, and became the first-ever expansion of the FMLA in its history.
• To protect workers and keep them safe, we must provide the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) with the guidance and the resources it needs.  That’s why I’ve introduced H.R 190, the Protecting America’s Workers Act (PAWA).  This bill would toughen criminal penalties when a worker is killed and expand these penalties to cover workers who are seriously injured due to a willful violation of the law.  The bill also would expand OSHA coverage for the state, county, and municipal employees who are not covered already by OSHA; provide improved protection for employees who blow the whistle on unsafe practices; and require OSHA to give victims and their families a role to play when citations and penalties are assessed. 
• Mining is a very dangerous profession and it’s essential that mineworkers are given workplace security and appropriate health safeguards are provided at mines.  That’s why, I’m a cosponsor of H.R. 1579, the  Robert C. Byrd Mine Safety Protection Act of 2011, which would give the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) the authority to close an entire mine if an owner has a pattern of serious violations and would strengthen penalties for those who operate mines without regard to safety and health.  I will continue fighting to improve the safety of all workers, including miners. 
• Workers in the private sector who come forward to report violations of the law need to be protected.  These “whistleblowers” provide a valuable public service, but current laws do not protect them.  Many are demoted, lose their jobs, or are blacklisted.  It’s imperative that these workers are protected and the law easily allows them to pursue claims of retaliation.
• We must make every effort to secure the pensions employees have been promised.  To change company rules midway through workers’ careers, would only further undermine retirement security.  The promises workers have been given must be protected.
• Due largely to lack of oversight and coordination between federal agencies, as well as lackluster enforcement efforts, tens of thousands of workers are misclassified deliberately and illegally as independent contractors when they should be classified as employees.  The practice gives lawbreakers an unfair advantage over employers that follow the law and it also hurts people who lose their right to workers’ compensation coverage, minimum and overtime wages, family and medical leave, and the right to organize and collectively bargain.  That’s why I’ve introduced H.R. 3178, The Employee Misclassification Prevention Act, which would seek to put an end to the misclassification of employees as independent contractors.