Joe Courtney

Despite the progress that we have made there is still much left to be done, and I believe there are many issues where Democrats and Republicans can join together again to strengthen our civil rights laws.

I am proud that during the Democratic-led 110th and 111th Congress, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, we made critical improvements to our nation's civil rights laws.

Congress has a responsibility to the nation's workers to ensure that should they become a victim of workplace discrimination, that they have a place to seek justice.

I want to thank you for calling today's hearing to put the spotlight on the important work of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Any lawyer who tells you they have won every case is a lawyer that has never tried a case.

I urge Chairman Walberg and Chairman Kline to work with Representatives Polis and Ros-Lehtinen, the bill's bipartisan sponsors, to bring this long overdue legislation back before the Committee for its immediate consideration.

I'm proud that the Democratic--led 110th and 111th Congresses, under the leadership of Speaker Nancy Pelosi, made critical improvements to this nation's civil rights laws.

The work of the EEOC is critical, particularly when we look to the challenges facing the unemployed in our nation.

Every worker in this country, whether a job applicant or an employee, deserves the right to be treated fairly in the workplace.

I just wish we could take an issue or two issues and just figure it out.

This is something I really think, you know, resonates with the public when they see that kind of damage that is being done.

I don't get our values. I don't understand.

3-and 4-year-olds didn't cause the structural deficit that we are in right now and they shouldn't bear the burden.

I was actually talking to the Head Start director in Norwich, Connecticut, who last Monday had a staff meeting announcing six layoffs of teachers driven by sequester.

If kids don't feel safe in schools the CDC numbers on mental illness with young children that came out a few--a couple days ago, I mean, this has got to be a focus.

Lies, damned lies, and statistics.

The Commission serves a vital function in ensuring workplaces free from unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, and disability.

The aging of Boomers, combined with a 25-year trend of Americans working longer and retiring later, means that our nation's workforce is getting older.

If I could just inquire through you, again, we have no further speakers, so I'm prepared to close.

It's now my privilege to yield 1 minute to my colleague from the State of Maryland (Ms. Edwards).

At this time I'd like to yield to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) for the purpose of a unanimous consent request.

I now yield 1 minute to my colleague from the State of Texas (Mr. Green).

Again, as someone who was a private sector employer for over 25 years, there is nothing under existing law that prevents an employer from giving an employee paid time off. I did it many times. Now it is my privilege to yield 1 minute to my…

I now yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney).

It is now my honor to yield 1\1/2\ minutes to an outstanding colleague on the Education and the Workforce Committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews). (Mr. ANDREWS asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)