Political Quotes

“-Madam President, I am pleased to see language in the State broadband grant program prioritizing employers with ``a demonstrated record of and plans to be in compliance with Federal labor and employment laws.'' It is unfortunately common for employers to violate our Nation's labor laws, from the National Labor Relations Act to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. The broadband industry, sadly, is no exception. In many industries, employers are engaging in rampant subcontracting and outsourcing. This situation is generally known as a ``fissured workplace,'' a circumstance where a primary employer outsources noncore business functions to subcontracted firms but still maintains tight control over the outcomes of those subcontractors. These arrangements impede enforcement of our Nation's labor laws. At times, employers engage in these practices strategically to evade accountability for labor law violations. I have worked with several Senators on this problem in the past, across the ideological spectrum and including with members who helped craft the bipartisan infrastructure package. It is my understanding that the language in the State broadband grant program was written chiefly to ensure that American taxpayer dollars prioritize projects with both past records of strict compliance with Federal labor and employment laws and plans to continue compliance with future projects. American taxpayer dollars should create good-paying American jobs.…”