Rep. Swalwell to Republican Leadership: Working Moms Deserve Better for Mother's Day than the "More Work, Less Pay Act"

Statement

U.S. Representative Eric Swalwell (CA-15) today spoke on the House Floor in opposition to H.R. 1406, the so-called Working Families Flexibility Act, which in reality undermines American workers and harms the middle class. This bill severely weakens the right of wage workers to overtime pay. That pay would instead go into an employer-controlled pot to be paid out at the end of the year or used as comp time by the employee. This would shift power to employers who could then deny overtime assignments to workers who insist on overtime pay.

"Today, a few days before Mother's Day, the House Republican Leadership has the House considering the so-called "Working Families Flexibility Act," on the Floor.

"This bill is no beautiful Mother's Day bouquet, but instead it amounts to a bunch of dead flowers.

"It denies working mothers, like my mother who still works today as a secretary, and other hardworking Americans the flexibility they need; this bill only gives flexibility to employers.

"Under this misguided legislation, employers would have the flexibility to substitute compensation time for overtime pay.

"This legislation makes it less expensive for employees to work overtime, encouraging employers to demand more overtime, leading to more work and less pay.

"Instead, we should voting on priorities for working families like equal pay for all, raising the minimum wage, and giving hard working Americans true flexibility.

"Unfortunately, the majority just doesn't understand the needs of working Americans.

"Today, I'll be voting no on H.R. 1406 because I'll defend hardworking moms and their families, who often rely on overtime pay to make ends meet.

"I urge my colleague to stand up for working families, vote no on H.R. 1406 and give working moms what they deserve this Mother's Day, which is equal pay for equal work."

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