Press Releases

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) issued the following joint statement after the Department of Labor proposed changes to federal overtime rules:

Federal overtime rules are extremely complicated and outdated. Too often workers are denied basic protections, and employers are caught in costly legal battles. We have said repeatedly that we would support a responsible effort to streamline and modernize existing overtime rules and regulations. No worker should be deprived of his or her fair share because of a broken regulatory system.

Unfortunately, this proposal is a missed opportunity. It will increase costs on small businesses, make it harder for workers to advance up the economic ladder, and do nothing to address the complexity of the regulations or reduce unnecessary litigation. The administration has crafted a regulatory proposal that will stifle productivity and personal opportunity.

As this process unfolds, we strongly urge the administration to work toward a balanced approach, one that will strengthen employee safeguards, eliminate employer confusion and uncertainty, and encourage growth and prosperity for the American people.

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