George Miller: “Mr. Chairman, these are tough times for many Americans as they struggle to make ends meet while balancing the challenges…”

“Mr. Chairman, these are tough times for many Americans as they struggle to make ends meet while balancing the challenges of work and a family. Families rightly seek greater flexibility and paycheck protection to meet their obligations at home and on the job. Unfortunately, the Republican comp time bill makes it harder rather than easier for these families. The Republican bill fails to ensure that employees can use the comp time when they need it, when they need to go to that soccer game, when they need to spend time with their youngsters. Worse, it could take valuable overtime pay out of an employee's pocket. It does not guarantee that employees would not be forced to take comp time instead of overtime pay. It does not guarantee that comp time would be offered to all employees and without any strings attached. And it does not guarantee that employees' comp time would be credited for the purposes of pension or Social Security. We need to have strong protections for workers who depend on overtime pay. Two-thirds of those who earned overtime pay in 1994 had a total annual family income of less than $40,000 a year and had an average wage of $10 per hour or less. That is why we need the serious protections that are provided by the Miller substitute amendment.”