Scott, Cassidy Highlight Republicans’ Efforts to Protect American Workers Amid HELP Hearing Pushing Big Labor and the Radical PRO Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, highlighted Republican efforts to protect American workers. During the HELP Committee hearing on labor relations in the United States, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the HELP Committee, touted big labor unions after reintroducing the radical Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.

“American workers – not big labor unions – are the engines of job creation, opportunity, and our economy,” said Senator Scott. “The complexities of our modern economy demand creative, forward-thinking legislation that gives workers and small business owners stability and flexibility. Yet, the Democrats continue to push for legislation that prioritizes politics over people by protecting big labor unions at the expense of workers. Republicans want to put workers back in the driver’s seat by giving them basic protections and the power to choose how to make a living for themselves and build a future for their families.”

“Let’s not confuse being pro-union with being pro-worker. Being pro-worker is about supporting all workers and their right to choose what is best for their career,” said Dr. Cassidy. “We’re seeing a concerning trend that attempts to erode workers’ rights. Whether it be administrative action or the introduction of the PRO Act—these efforts are not about supporting the rights of workers. The intent is to force workers into unions to prop up and support the power of big, politically-connected unions.”

Republicans have championed:

• Protecting independent contractors and the self-employed;
• Allowing employers to provide benefits to independent contractors;
• Providing protections for small businesses and entrepreneurs; 
• Protecting secret ballot labor union elections and strike votes;
• Protecting employee privacy;
• Providing employee protection from unwanted political spending; and
• Providing maximum flexibility to workers and employers.