Throughout the 113th Congress, the House has been laser-focused on growing the economy and building a better future for all Americans. This week was no different, with the chamber advancing legislation that will help lower energy costs and spur job creation. The Education and the Workforce Committee has played an integral role in this ongoing effort to support working families. Here are just a few reforms the committee has championed, the House has passed, and the Senate has neglected to take up:
Providing families more flexibility in the workplace. What would you do with more time? Spend a few extra hours with the kids? Run some errands? Care for an aging relative? For most working families, it seems there aren’t enough hours in the day. To help families juggle the demands they face at home and at work, the House passed a bill to allow private-sector employees to accrue paid time off or “comp time” for working overtime hours. Public employees have enjoyed this benefit for years, but private-sector workers have not. If it’s good enough for the government, it’s good enough for everybody.
Fixing a broken education system. Everyone recognizes that while No Child Left Behind was well intended, it is no longer serving the best interests of students. Instead of working with Congress to reform a flawed law, the Obama administration has created more confusion and uncertainty through a convoluted waiver scheme. Republicans believe teachers, students, and parents deserve better – they deserve a new law. That is why more than a year ago the House endorsed legislation that will empower parents, restore local control, and reduce the federal footprint.
Expanding access to quality charter schools. In an education system plagued by many challenges, charter schools are a beacon of hope for millions of families. Charter schools empower parents to be more active in their children’s education and help rescue students stuck in underperforming schools. With rapidly growing demand for charter schools, there simply aren’t enough seats to serve every student in need. The House has taken bipartisan action that would strengthen the charter school program and allow successful replication of charter school models nationwide.
The House is doing its part to get the economy moving and the American people back to work. It’s not impossible to set aside differences, work together, and make progress on behalf of the country (see job training, child care, and education research).
As Speaker Boehner noted earlier, “With all the challenges that hardworking families are facing, it’s going to take a number of solutions, both large and small, to help get them back on their feet.” The House has offered a lot of solutions. We just need a more willing partner in the Senate to help get them done.
