Labor

As a senior member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, Congresswoman McCarthy is determined to enforce and bolster workplace protections for both Long Island employers and employees.

Protecting and Empowering Working Families

As former Chairwoman of the Healthy Families and Communities Subcommittee, the Congresswoman has continually supported efforts to help assist working families.  Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is a cosponsor of multiple bills that would help offer flexibility to parents and family members in the workplace including, but not limited to, the Parental Bereavement Act and the Healthy Families Act which would each allow for paid time off in the case of a qualified life event.

H.R. 803, SKILLS Act and Supporting Workforce Investment

The Congresswoman voted against H.R. 803, the SKILLS Act because it failed to meet the basic criteria of successfully preparing our nation’s workforce for a 21^st century economy.  Instead, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is a cosponsor of a more complete bill, the Workforce Investment Act of 2013, which would streamline and improve workforce program services, improve accountability through performance measures, promote innovation, expand the role of community colleges in job training and engage youth through multiple pathways to success.

Raising the Minimum Wage

Every American deserves a living wage.  Unfortunately, our national minimum wage of $7.25 is not a reflection of the average Americans’ cost of living.  An increase in the minimum wage would create jobs, boost our economy and most importantly restore fairness to hardworking men and women.  Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy is a proud cosponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act which would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2015 and adjust wages for tipped employees.

Equal Rights

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy believes in workplace tolerance and equality. As a cosponsor of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, she firmly believes that employers should be forbidden from making decisions about hiring, firing, promotion or compensation based on sexual orientation or gender identity. 

Unemployment Benefits

Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy has continually supported federal unemployment insurance.  Especially in an economic downturn, individuals and families rely on this essential lifeline for daily necessities.  As such, the Congresswoman is a cosponsor of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation Extension Act which would provide a three month extension of emergency unemployment insurance.

Protecting the Rights of Retirees

As a senior member of both the Education and the Workforce and Financial Services Committees, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy was able to galvanize bipartisan Congressional support for a withdrawal of a Department of Labor rulemaking that would have vastly broadened the definition of fiduciary duty and put consumer access to financial education at risk.  Her efforts led to the successful withdrawal of the Department of Labor regulation.

H.R. 1120, the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act

The Congresswoman voted against H.R. 1120, which passed the House on April 12^th 2013.  The bill would prevent the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) from taking most official actions until the Senate confirms new members.  The NLRB plays a critical role in addressing unfair labor practices for workers and employers.  The bill, if passed into law, would invalidate every action the NLRB has taken since January 2012.