E&W Blog

In Case You Missed It, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) spoke on the House Floor in support of four bills to help workers build retirement wealth, protect children, keep kids active, and help kids learn to read.

Helping Workers Build Retirement Wealth
S. 2403, Retire through Ownership Act, the Senate companion to H.R. 5169 authored by Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee Chairman Rick Allen (R-GA), provides clear guidelines for valuing stock purchased and held by employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs), making it easier for businesses to create and maintain ESOPs and helping more workers build retirement wealth through company ownership.

Chairman Walberg said on the House Floor, as prepared for delivery: “ESOPs provide employees with a meaningful foothold in capital ownership. Studies associate ESOPs with longer employment tenure, increased productivity, and greater wealth creation for employees. S. 2403 makes it easier for businesses to create and maintain ESOPs, helping more workers build retirement wealth through company ownership and encouraging more businesses to adopt ESOPs.”  Read Chairman Walberg’s full remarks here.

Keeping Convicted Sex Offenders Out of Union Leadership
H.R. 8775, Ending Predator Access to Union Power Act, authored by Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), closes a loophole in federal law by barring individuals convicted of sex crimes against minors from holding positions of power in labor unions or serving as labor consultants to employers.

Chairman Walberg said on the House Floor, as prepared for delivery: “Federal law already bars individuals convicted of serious crimes—including murder, rape, robbery, and embezzlement—from holding positions of power in labor unions and certain positions in employer management for up to 13 years after conviction or release. It only makes sense that sex crimes against minors should be included as well. H.R. 8775, Ending Predator Access to Union Power Act, closes this loophole with a simple and commonsense fix.” Read Chairman Walberg’s full remarks here.

Helping Kids Get Active
H.R. 9723, Fit Future Act, authored by Rep. Ryan Mackenzie (R-PA), codifies the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition and encourages kids to get active, set fitness goals, and build healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

Chairman Walberg said on the House Floor, as prepared for delivery: “Not only is fitness important for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, but it’s also critical to child development. Kids today are facing a growing crisis—only 20 percent of children are meeting the requirements for daily activity, and 1 in 5 American children and teens have obesity. H.R. 9723 modernizes the Presidential Fitness Test and makes physical activity a lasting national priority—helping more kids build healthy habits and grow into healthier adults.” Read Chairman Walberg’s full remarks here.

Helping Kids Learn to Read
H.R. 7890, Science of Reading Act of 2026, authored by Rep. Erin Houchin (R-IN), ensures federal reading funds do not support “three-cueing” methods and instead go toward research-backed approaches like phonics, while leaving curriculum decisions to states.

Chairman Walberg said on the House Floor, as prepared for delivery: “Literacy is a gateway skill. If students can’t read, they can’t fully access learning in other subjects—and the consequences can extend far beyond the classroom. It’s time to move away from failed theories and restore evidence-based reading instruction that actually works. Our children deserve an education grounded in what the evidence tells us, not the latest educational fad.” Read Chairman Walberg’s full remarks here.