Yvette Clarke: “I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia, for anchoring this very important Special Order this evening. Mr.…”

“I thank my colleague, the gentleman from Georgia, for anchoring this very important Special Order this evening. Mr. Speaker, I rise in solidarity with my colleagues in this very important discussion about fair share fees for union workers. {time} 2045 In 1977, the Supreme Court, in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, decided that fair share fees were constitutional, full stop. This decision allowed unions to be paid fair share fees by nonunion members in order to negotiate on their behalf. Fair share fees have become increasingly significant and important, as unions continue to fight for worker protections in the workplace. Now, 40 years later, the Supreme Court is poised to hear this issue yet again in Janus v. AFSCME. So what has changed? What has changed? Mr. Speaker, I am deeply concerned that this is yet another attempt to put big business above working people and weaken organized labor as effective representatives for the working class. I, therefore, ask the Court to be thoughtful. I ask that they think of the consequences that will follow by reversing this law. I ask the Court not to be used as pawns by the Republican conservatives, millionaires and billionaires, to weaken organized labor and unions of the 21st century. If it were not for organized labor, many of us would not be standing here representing our constituents today.…”