Protect America's Workforce Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, first, I thank Congressman Golden for bringing us together on this important bill.

As co-chair of the Congressional Labor Caucus, I know how critical labor rights are not only for workers in unions but for all American workers. We are all better off because of unions. Healthcare, retirement, safe workplaces, holidays, the length of the workweek, and vacations were negotiated for all of us. We have them because unions negotiated them.

We are here because President Trump signed an executive order seeking to end collective bargaining rights for unionized Federal employees across several agencies. Congress granted, not the executive branch, collective bargaining rights for Federal employees decades ago, and they have been upheld for years by the administration of both parties and now thousands of workers have had those rights taken away.

Let's get one thing clear: Our Federal employees are absolutely essential to keep our country running.

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Mrs. DINGELL. They are firefighters, nurses, doctors, air traffic controllers, food inspectors, law enforcement, and public safety officials. They impact every part of our lives, and we take them for granted. We cannot hurt them. We must support them.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my Republican colleagues who have joined us on this bill and encourage those who have not yet recognized this is an opportunity for all of us to work together. Let us show government employees we have their backs.

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