Mark Pocan

I want to ask--you talked just a little bit about the situation in Utah.

I remember one time getting a 12 percent increase, and I was really excited about getting that for a year.

I think one of the myths is about the number of businesses affected.

We did a good job of lawyering up again; we have got a lot of lawyers on the panel.

I thank the ranking member, Bobby Scott, for yielding me time. I am a small business owner, and I am a union member, and I have a union business. The disapproval of the NLRB rule under the Congressional Review Act is an extreme move that…

If you really believe in your convictions that is too short of a timeline, please--I will get you, if you would like, the address of our governor and our legislative leaders.

I think it is far more intrusive to have someone at your door.

This myth of this 10 or 11-day election is much like the myth of the Loch Ness Monster or Bigfoot.

I thank Ranking Member Scott. Mr. Chairman, this bill breaks the promise made 50 years ago to help all kids get a good, quality public education and to recognize the challenges faced by kids living in poverty. When talking about the…

It becomes an unlevel playing field when someone who can violate the law and, by violating the law, cut some corners.

As a business owner I want to have a level playing field.

That alone speaks volumes, that the very contractors who violate the law don't want to come before a Committee to actually speak the truth.

I am more likely to bid on something knowing that I am doing a fair bid, that I am bidding at the same level playing field.

We don't want to compete unfairly when it comes to that.

I rise on behalf of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is having our Special Order hour today to talk about the Nation's need for infrastructure--the fact that we need to keep serious investments in infrastructure not only to keep…

Thank you, Representative Lee. I look forward to working with you on our Progressive alternative also for the budget, when, I think, we will showcase many of those initiatives that we would much rather see the country do to help create…

Thank you, Representative Hahn. I think you said it very eloquently. We are all for trade. I don't think there is a Member in this body who doesn't want to see trade happen, but we want fair trade. We don't want the so-called free trade…

I am here on behalf of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in our Special Order hour where we want to share with the American public our concerns about a trade deal that we think will be coming through Congress in the first few months or…

Again, thank you, Mr. Lowenthal. Because that is the problem--we have been told the Speaker won't schedule the vote, but there are other ways. Every single Member of this body can sign a discharge petition, and if we get a majority of us…

I would like to ask the gentleman if you signed the discharge petition so that we can force a vote in this House to raise the minimum wage in the remaining weeks we have before we finish the session for the year.

If I could just ask you, gentlemen, one question--and I will go to Mr. Rangel again for a comment. Let me ask you a question. The leadership in this House, the Republican leadership, has refused to schedule a bill to raise the minimum…

I want it just as much for the small-business owner, which I am as well, but I want it for that worker.

I think that is what is really happening here, is you are finding that some people are trying to exaggerate--first of all, go after the NLRB, second, try to exaggerate the extent of this.

I think, again, this committee having 17 hearings on this is, I think, looking at perhaps a different mission, specifically trying to undermine the NLRB across the board.

Freedom of association and negotiating for improved working conditions are fundamental rights for all workers in this country-regardless of what type of employment they are in.