[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 84 (Tuesday, June 10, 2003)]
[House]
[Page H5098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FAMILIES SHOULD CHOOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR THEM

  (Mr. PITTS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PITTS. Mr. Speaker, last week the House was scheduled to consider 
the Family Time Flexibility Act. But some of our friends on the other 
side of the aisle opposed the idea of allowing workers to choose what 
their overtime is worth, so we did not get to vote on it.
  When workers spend extra time at work, they should determine how much 
that time is worth, not employers and not politicians. This bill would 
allow them to do that. It gives employees the choice of how they are 
compensated for time they work over and above their normal work week.
  In my district this is a big deal. There are a lot of hardworking 
people there who work a lot of overtime and a lot of close-knit 
families whose time is precious enough as it is. They should not be 
forced to take more money when what they need is some extra time at 
home.
  But in order to appease special interests, our friends on the other 
side opposed this bill and prevented a vote on it. They opposed the 
right of workers to choose what is best for their families. They put 
the demands of big labor unions over the rights of parents to spend 
more time with their kids, and I think that is a crime.

                          ____________________