Congressman Keller Co-sponsors Legislation Supporting Firefighters and Cops

Press Release

Congressman Ric Keller Speech:

H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I rise in support of this legislation, and am proud to be a cosponsor of H.R. 980, the Public-Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007.

Firefighters and police officers put their lives on the line to protect us, and they deserve the right to collectively bargain for safe working conditions and fair wages.

Recent events remind us of their heroism.

It was a week ago today that a plane crashed into two homes in Sanford, Florida, just outside my hometown of Orlando, Florida.

An off-duty firefighter named Ryan Cooper was nearby when he heard the plane roaring toward the houses. As the airplane smashed the two homes, and exploded them into flames, Ryan Cooper went into action. He rushed into the smoldering homes, and brought out a 10-year-old boy, and his father.

Firefighter Ryan Cooper is a true hero. From his hospital bed, where he was being treated for smoke inhalation, Mr. Cooper humbly said that any firefighter would have done the same thing.

Sometimes firefighters pay the ultimate sacrifice. Just last month, nine firefighters in Charleston, South Carolina lost their lives fighting a blaze at a furniture store.

These acts of heroism highlight the dangerous nature of public safety officers' jobs.

This legislation gets the ball in the strike zone. On the one hand, it allows firefighters and police officers to collectively bargain for better working conditions and fair wages. On the other hand, it expressly outlaws strikes, and it does not overturn state right to work laws.

In short, this bill is fair and reasonable, and deserves our bipartisan support.

Finally, let me address the main concern raised by some folks about this legislation. They say that this legislation would mandate "compulsory unionism" in right to work states.

This simply isn't the case. Section 8, Subsections 2 and 3, specifically state that this legislation would not pre-empt state right to work laws. In other words, this legislation allows states to enforce laws that prevent employers and unions from requiring union fees as a condition of employment.

Many people confuse collective bargaining with right to work. The two can coexist. For example, firefighters currently enjoy collective bargaining rights in my home state of Florida, yet Florida is a right to work state.

In closing, I would first like to thank the gentleman from Michigan -- Mr. Kildee -- for all of his hard work on this bill. Mr. Kildee has been a tireless advocate for this legislation.

I would also like to thank the Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee -- Mr. Miller -- and the Majority staff for working with the minority to make some changes and improvements in the bill, particularly those that address issues which were raised during consideration of this bill in Committee.

I will be voting for H.R. 980 today, and urge my colleagues to do likewise.

I reserve the balance of my time.

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