On April 5th of this year, a tragedy struck Montcoal, West Virginia. On that day, an explosion at the Upper Big Branch coal mine killed 29 miners and provided a stark reminder that coal mining is a profession marked by risks and dangers. And while steps have been taken to strengthen protections for miners, this tragedy and others like it remind us that more work remains to be done. I believe steps... Read more »
As the notice announcing our hearing states, we will be reviewing an independent audit of the Labor Department's financial records. This is a department with a roughly $16 billion budget, 30 agencies, and more than 17,000 employees. A great deal of time and resources were invested in this audit and for good reason: addressing the country’s fiscal challenges will not be possible until every dollar ... Read more »
Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s senior Republican member, issued the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Labor reported the national unemployment rate increased to 9.8 percent during the month of November: “Today’s jobs report confirms what the American people already know but many in Congress refuse to accept: our economy is on shaky groun... Read more »
Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s senior Republican member, issued the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed S. 3307: “Republicans are committed to extending and improving child nutrition programs in a fiscally responsible way. Unfortunately, once again, the Hobson’s choice Democratic leaders forced through Congress blocked any cha... Read more »
Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the top Republican on the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after Democrats pulled child nutrition legislation from the House floor to avoid a vote on a Republican proposal to require criminal background checks for child care providers and block a stealth tax on working families: “Members of the U.S. House of Representatives – Re... Read more »
Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s senior Republican member, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Labor’s decision to rescind the Form T-1 reporting requirement for union trusts controlled by union officials. The department’s decision will roll back a 2008 rule that requires financial disclosure by union trusts, which are entitie... Read more »
The American people have spoken, and they continue to speak loud and clear. I’ve been listening, and I know what I have been hearing in the second district of Minnesota is being repeated from coast to coast. “Stop growing government,” the people are telling us. “Stop spending money we do not have.” It is a simple request, and a sensible one. Yet it continues to be ignored. Today’s vote will be amo... Read more »
Dear Colleague, As the House prepares to vote this week on legislation to significantly expand the cost and federal mandates associated with child nutrition programs, I urge you to consider the concerns raised by school leaders in the following letter sent to Congress. The nation’s public school districts, represented by the American Association of School Administrators, Council of the Great City... Read more »
Taxpayers are spending billions of dollars each year to combat child hunger and improve the health and wellness of needy children and families. Rather than extending and improving current programs, Democrats have proposed legislation (S. 3307) to dramatically expand the number and scope of federal meal programs – adding billions in new spending, layers of new government mandates, and heavy burdens... Read more »
The following op-ed was published online in The Washington Examiner. At first glance, it may be difficult to understand the pairing of education and workplace issues in a single congressional committee. What does a third grade classroom have in common with a construction site? How do school lunches relate to small businesses? As unlikely a duo as these issues may seem, they are actually quite clos... Read more »
