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 statement after President Obama directed Secretary Thomas Perez to review federal policies governing overtime pay: 

Today millions of Americans are unable to benefit from overtime protections for the simple reason they can’t find work. Executive memos and unilateral actions cannot provide the income security our struggling families need. Republicans have long encouraged and continue to support efforts to modernize the rules related to the Fair Labor Standards Act, recognizing the law’s overly complex regulations often promote the interests of trial lawyers instead of workers. We should work together to eliminate confusion and avoid unintended consequences, while also maintaining worker safeguards. If the president is sincere about modernizing current rules, then the committee will continue to support such an effort. We hope this announcement represents a serious attempt to update current regulations and not just another political distraction from the president’s failed policies. 

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