Grace Napolitano: “I thank Mr. DeFazio for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which would overturn a Federal…”

“I thank Mr. DeFazio for yielding. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to this amendment, which would overturn a Federal court decision that determined California meal and rest break laws apply to truckers. On July 9, 2014, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, as was mentioned before, ruled that trucking operators in California must allow for 30-minute breaks after 5 hours of work and a 10-minute rest break after each 4 hours. This meal and rest break standard is very reasonable when you consider the truck drivers can be subject to 14 hours of on-duty time. The amendment would not only preempt California's law with regard to trucking operations, but would preempt laws in 21 other States and territories that guarantee a meal break. I won't go into the States' names. The States must be allowed to set meal and rest break standards as they see fit for the health and safety of their workers. One size does not fit all. Mr. Chairman, I ask my colleagues to oppose the amendment.”