On the recordSeptember 15, 2011
I am deeply disappointed by the bill the Republican majority is bringing to the floor today. While I am used to the Republicans attacking new protections for American workers, this bill attacks and removes long-standing enforcement provisions of the National Labor Relations Board, virtually eliminating its protection for U.S. workers. This bill prohibits the National Labor Relations Board from carrying out its mandate to prevent unfair labor practices and would even allow companies to move outside of the United States to avoid union organizing. In other words, this bill makes it easy for companies to outsource jobs to other countries in order to avoid paying our workers family wages, providing health benefits, and meeting basic safety and environmental obligations. Under current law, it is illegal to retaliate against workers for union activity or to threaten workers to discourage union activity. Not only does the bill remove the power from the National Labor Relations Board to block such retaliation or threats, but the bill even prevents the Board from seeking such an order. Our laws may set forth strong worker protections, but this bill prevents the exercise of those protections, reducing those promises to empty words. It is appalling to me that the Republican majority is considering rolling back provisions that have protected workers for decades. I urge my colleagues to vote against this ill-considered legislation.
