Russ Feingold: “Mr. President, I rise to oppose the amendment offered by the Senator from Kansas that would prohibit the U.S. Labor…”

“Mr. President, I rise to oppose the amendment offered by the Senator from Kansas that would prohibit the U.S. Labor Department from expending funds to enforce the President's recent Executive order barring Federal contracts with contractors that use permanent replacements. The President has issued the Executive order, in my view, simply to restore a measure of equality to Federal labor law by guaranteeing the workers the right to strike without the fear of being permanently replaced. I do not think Federal resources should be used to put people out of work. These are people who are exercising their rights under the Federal labor law. Unfortunately, the measure of the Senator from Kansas would block the President's ability to protect these workers and companies that are Federal contractors. This would be the second time in less than a year that the supporters of striker replacements have used what I consider to be subterfuge to undermine striking workers.”