Press Releases

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) today issued the following joint statement in response to the president’s paid sick leave executive order announcement:

For more than a decade, Republicans have championed legislation that would give working moms and dads greater flexibility to meet the needs of their families. Our proposal would empower workers with the ability to accrue paid time off to use as they see fit, whether it’s recovering from an illness, caring for an aging relative, or simply attending a child’s sporting event.

We can provide working families more flexibility without more government mandates and executive orders. Unfortunately, a commonsense solution has been stymied by Democrats beholden to union bosses who want to deny workers the right to choose what’s best for their families.

This announcement reflects another missed opportunity to advance real reforms for working families, and it will make it even harder for small businesses to do business with the federal government. No matter how painful it’s been for the country, the president insists on a flawed agenda that’s led to a weak economy and sluggish job growth. That may be good enough for him, but we believe the American people deserve better.

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