DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 -- (House of Representatives - September 09, 2004)
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 754 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the further consideration of the bill, H.R. 5006.
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Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the requisite number of words.
(Mr. McKEON asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. McKEON. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong opposition to the Obey amendment because it will preclude anyone making over $20,000 a year from overtime.
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I rise today in strong support for the Department of Labor's new 541 "white collar" overtime regulations. These updated rules, which have not been touched in over 50 years, will allow millions of American workers, who previously did not receive overtime, to obtain the overtime wages they deserve.
Under the former outdated rules, an individual earning as little as $8,060 a year could be classified as a "white collar" employee, therefore being exempt from overtime pay.
The final rule guarantees that any worker making less than $23,660 per year is entitled to overtime, which should provide an additional 1.3 million more Americans with overtime pay and strengthen existing protections for another 5.4 million salaried workers.
The final rule explicitly grants overtime protections for police officers, fire fighters, paramedics, EMTs, first responders and licensed practical nurses. These people put their lives on the line every day and should be properly compensated for making our lives and our country a safer and better place.
But the final rule does not stop there. It also clarifies that a veteran's status will not affect overtime pay and removes the reference to "training in the armed forces" that had been proposed in the earlier regulations and improperly exempted some veterans.
To close, I would like to extend my appreciation to Secretary Chao and the Department staff for their tireless efforts on behalf of America's workforce to ensure that all workers receive the overtime pay they have rightfully earned.
I urge my colleagues to vote "no" on the Obey Amendment.
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Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. McKEON. I yield to the gentleman from Ohio