The End of the 40-Hour Workweek

Floor Speech

Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, today was one of the saddest days this House of Representatives has probably ever seen. The 40-hour workweek, a great part of our heritage since 1938, destroyed. Don't get overtime, get comp time. Employer decides if you get comp time, when you get it, when he wants you to have it.

Assuming that everybody around here that's working is working 40 hours and wants to get some extra time is well-heeled and got time to take off and doesn't need that extra money, that time-and-a-half overtime, and they've got time to go out and play 18 holes of golf or something.

Most hardworking Americans need that overtime to take care of their families and to get through from day to day. But today this House voted to take away that opportunity for employees to have the 40-hour week and overtime thereafter. It was a shameless day.

We need to look out for our workers and preserve American rights, not give more to the 1 percent, more control and more money away from the 99 percent.

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