Alma Adams

As a former educator of 40 years, I understand how important that is.

the Trump Administration's proposed 2020 budget calls for cutting $1.2 billion, for nearly 10 percent of the Department of Labor's resources to help offset the cost of tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

One of the biggest challenges to scaling successful work force training programs in our country is the lack of resources that we dedicate to the work force system.

WIOA, for example, has yet to be fully funded to authorize levels.

I think that it is important that, specifically, when students are going from high school to college, to also educate their parents because if you are talking about students from low economic backgrounds, it is a generational effect.

Do you believe that Congress must address the NFIP's debt? And do you think that it makes good sense for policyholders who may be already suffering from affordability challenges in a cash-strapped program to pay $4 billion just in interest…

I believe that if employers are serious about diversity that they will link their end-of-year bonuses to their diversity goals.

I was troubled by the way Mr. Mulvaney fired the 25 members of the Consumer Advisory Board last June.

I have never believed that that should be a partisan issue.

Simply put, this bill contains programs that directly and indirectly serve every single American.

I do want to urge the committee to acknowledge the seriousness of these challenges.

The bill was budget neutral, and it passed with overwhelming and historic bipartisan support.

Please elaborate on the agency's thinking on this rule, because through the USDA's February 1st SNAP Requirements for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents proposed rulemaking, you seem to be ignoring the will of Congress.

Today, we are here to discuss solutions for protecting our country's front-line caregivers from violence in the workplace.

I was proud to work with a bipartisan group of my colleagues to authorize at least three Centers of Excellence at 1890 land-grant universities in last year's farm bill.

I also want to ask about your decision to appoint Naomi Earp as the Deputy Assistant Secretary.

I want to mention one other thing about that. One of the better things you all did regarding 1890s and the farm bill was to stop the rescission of the money that you are giving out there.

Congress has an obligation to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and end gender based pay discrimination once and for all.

When women are shortchanged our children, our families, our economy, all shortchanged.

I just can't imagine that we would not advocate for them to be paid less for the same work just because they are women.

We can't continue to rob $5 billion each year from nearly half of our Nation's work force, shortchange families and children by financially penalizing mothers.

Thank you to our ranking member as well and to all of you for your testimony and to all the advocates here in Congress and on the ground working to ensure equal wages for equal work.

Time is up for that.

the Paycheck Fairness Act clarifies that if an employer justifies pay disparity based on a factor other than sex, such defense must be based on a bonafide job related factor.

It is always right to do what is right.