[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 22, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    IMPACT ON INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS IN REVENUE RECONCILIATION ACT

  Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, the independent contractor provision in 
the Revenue Reconciliation Act will do great damage to employer 
relations in our country. Millions of Americans would lose health care 
coverage and pension benefits.
  Working women would suffer the most. For women, being an independent 
contractor means much lower wages than male employees in similar jobs. 
What about health care and pensions? Only 2 percent of women 
independent contractors have health care and pensions paid by their 
employers. Women also would lose critical employment protections.
  Independent contractors are not covered by equal employment 
opportunity laws. They do not receive family and medical leave. Some 
employers have misclassified janitors and garment workers to evade 
minimum wage and overtime laws affecting many low-wage workers who are 
women.
  Working women have fought hard to win equal employment opportunity, 
fair wages, and economic security. The independent contractor provision 
would be a disaster for them and their families. That is why a 
coalition of 130 women's organizations is against this measure.
  Finally, Madam Speaker, the bipartisan budget bill is the wrong 
vehicle to carry this issue. As my colleague from Connecticut, [Mrs. 
Johnson] pointed out in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Congress 
needs to protect working women and to delete this clause from the 
budget bill.

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