Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2015

Floor Speech

Mr. ELLISON. Madam Chair, today I am offering an amendment that is very simple. Basically, it is one of those issues that I think both conservatives and liberals and Republicans and Democrats ought to be able to get together and agree on. And that is, if a hardworking American earns a penny, they ought to get that penny.

So what the amendment does, it says that if there is a Federal contractor who has a demonstrated, recorded, proven history of wage theft, is in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act, then they will not be able to participate in this appropriation.

This amendment addresses a very serious problem. I would like to bring to the House's attention that the Economic Policy Institute found that in total, the average low-wage worker loses a stunning $2,634 per year in unpaid wages, representing about 15 percent of their earned income. Another report by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee of the United States Senate revealed that 32 percent of the largest Department of Labor penalties for wage theft were levied against Federal contractors. Similarly, a National Employment Law Project study found that about 21 percent of Federal contract workers were not paid overtime, and 11 percent were forced to work off the clock.

Now, we might debate taxes. We might debate how high the minimum wage should be. But I know this House, this body, as a whole, believes that hardworking people should get the money that they have worked for.

Also, the Federal Government, the government is the largest spender in the world, I think, when you add it all up. And anyone who would want a contract with the Federal Government should be a contractor who is willing to uphold the best, most ethical business standards.

We, as a body, should appropriate our money to those businesses that believe in paying the workers on time, no matter what that agreed amount of money is.
Madam Chair, let me just conclude by saying that I think this is an important amendment. I urge adoption. And as we, as a body, work hard to provide opportunity for all Americans, particularly those who work for Federal contractors. I think one thing we can do is to support this amendment today and send an important signal that a penny worked for is a penny that must be paid.

I yield back the balance of my time.

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