Committee Statements

This resolution is our way of honoring a commitment we made more than five years ago. Since the Department of Labor issued their first proposal to expand the definition of “fiduciary” in 2010, we have raised concerns about their approach. Not the intent behind the rule – the approach. We agree that retirement advisors should serve their clients’ best interests. Ensuring they do so is a worthwhile,... Read more »

We’re here today because we all agree that hardworking men and women should be able to earn a paycheck without risking a serious injury or being exposed to a deadly disease. And every family deserves the peace of mind that their loved ones are safe on the job. We also agree that federal policies play a role in meeting that shared goal. This hearing is timely, because next week marks 45 years that ... Read more »

This hearing furthers the goals of the Task Force on Health Care Reform, which was established to develop a plan to replace ObamaCare’s one-size-fits-all approach with free-market, patient-centered solutions. We’ve already held a number of meetings to take input from members, policy experts, and stakeholders, and to build consensus around policies that will deliver the results the American people ... Read more »

House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) issued the following statement after the Department of Labor released unemployment data for March 2016: It’s encouraging that hiring is improving and more Americans are back to work, but we still have a long way to go. Millions of workers are still looking for full-time jobs, and millions more are so discouraged by meager job p... Read more »

It’s good to have the opportunity to learn more about how policies and proposals coming out of Washington are affecting workers and employers both in Michigan and across the country. Discussions like this one are important because they inform the work we do as lawmakers. They help us—as your representatives in our nation’s capital—better understand your concerns, your struggles, and your successes... Read more »

These discussions really are valuable to us. They help us deliver meaningful solutions to the many challenges facing Americans right now, including those facing our workers and job creators. In fact, when it comes to updating rules and regulations related to workforce protections and wage and hour standards, having the opportunity to hear your perspectives and experiences are particularly importan... Read more »

Education research has long played an important role in our nation’s classrooms. States and school districts use research to identify teaching and learning strategies that improve classroom instruction and those that don’t. Education research also provides parents, teachers, school leaders, and policymakers with the information they need to determine if federal programs are delivering real results... Read more »

It is always a pleasure to discuss with you the policies of the Department of Labor, which impact countless workplaces and millions of workers across the country. As I’ve said before, it’s the responsibility of this committee to ensure those policies are being administered in a way that best protects the interests of workers and employers, and American taxpayers as well. This is a responsibility w... Read more »

From welfare and health care to early childhood development and support services for older Americans, the policies your department oversees affect the lives of millions of Americans. Conversations like this one are vitally important as we work to ensure the department is acting in the best interests of taxpayers and those in need. As we examine what programs and policies are working, and which one... Read more »

Replacing No Child Left Behind was a significant achievement that was desperately needed and long overdue. The law represented the largest expansion of federal control over K-12 schools, and it was based on the flawed premise that Washington knows best what students need in the classroom. The federal government imposed rigid rules and punitive actions on states and schools in areas vital to a chil... Read more »