Hearings to examine labor law reform part 2, focusing on new solutions for finding a pro-worker way forward.
2025-10-22
Source: Congress.gov
Summary
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions convened a hearing to assess how outdated labor laws impact modern workers, businesses, and unions. Panelists, including Boeing machinists, nurses, and graduate students, testified on key issues such as the need for stronger worker protections, fair wage negotiations, and the right to opt out of union political activities. The hearing explored reforms to union elections, union financial transparency, and safety standards in workplaces, with a focus on restoring democratic worker choice and addressing issues like workplace violence and unfair labor practice charges. Witnesses also emphasized the impact of policy decisions on healthcare access and the economic stress faced by working families during periods of federal government shutdowns and rising insurance costs.
Participants
Transcript
The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will please come to order. It's been nearly 100 years since the core of our nation's labor laws were passed. Since then, the economy and the way we work has changed. Congress should update labor laws for businesses, unions, and workers to make our nation competitive in this 21st century economy. President Trump deserves a lot of credit. He is committed to delivering the most pro-business, pro-worker administration in history. In pursuit of this, he's built a strong coalition of businesses, unions, and workers united to increase prosperity for all. As Health Chair, this committee should deliver on President Trump's pro-worker, pro-business, pro-family agenda. By the way, let's get some perspective here. In the last 10 years, we've had four different administrations, two Republicans and two Democrats. Now, when I speak to businesses in Louisiana and elsewhere, they feel whipsawed by changing administration. Everybody loves it when their team's in charge, and then their team is not in charge, and then they hate it. What we learn is that no one is in charge forever. I think that gives us the responsibility and indeed the opportunity to pass something upon which all can agree in which we can bring stability to businesses, unions, and workers. Now to do this, we have to build consensus on lasting changes that benefit all. My colleagues, continued engagement is essential. And my purpose in these hearings is to come out with actionable legislation that can pass on the floor, which means it can get 60 votes. Bringing certainty to all involved so that somebody planning their business Planning their worker activities 15 years from now will have some sense of where the guardrails are, which I think that sense has been lost.
Earlier this month, the committee heard from a wide range of voices on how to improve labor laws to protect workers' rights and expand freedoms. First, we must strengthen workers' voice in deciding how their hard-earned dollars are spent especially when it comes to funding political activities that do not benefit workers. Workers should not be forced to fund ideologies and entities that violate their beliefs. Congress must protect workers' rights in the workplace and on the picket line, defending workers from harassment and abuse and empowering them to protect their personal data. We should curb frivolous, unfair labor practice charges that worsen the NLRB's backlog and delay workers from asserting their rights in the workplace. Another serious issue is the impact of illegal immigration on the workforce, taking jobs and driving down wages for hardworking Americans. The Trump administration has made this a priority. It is something the committee will examine closely. Finally, Congress must restore worker choice in the unionization process. This includes considering ways to enhance the integrity of union elections, helping workers reach that first contract in a timely manner, ensuring they can determine when their labor contract is working for them. These are key principles that will guide this conversation and hopefully our future legislative action. By reforming our labor laws, we will deliver on President Trump's pro-worker legacy and empower the middle class to achieve the American dream.
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Unknown (SPEAKER_03)
Imagine that, just arbitrarily throwing tens of thousands of federal workers out on the street, breaking union contracts in an unprecedented way, neutering the National Labor Relations Board so that they cannot deal with labor issues that come before them. I did not know that that was on top of taking away health care from 15 million low-income and working-class Americans, raising premiums for 20-plus million Americans by doubling what they're going to have to pay for health insurance. I did not realize that was a pro-worker agenda. God help us that we had a president who had an anti-worker agenda. Mr. President, what we're talking about today is a very important issue. And the question I think we have got to and other committees have got to address is a simple fact. We're living in the wealthiest country in the history of the world. And over the last 50 plus years, we have seen an explosion in technology and worker productivity. Everybody recognizes that. And with artificial intelligence or robotics, we're going to see even more of a transformation of our economy. So the question it seems to me, Mr. Chairman, that we have to ask ourselves is, in the wealthiest country in the history of the world, How are working people doing?
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