[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 52 (Wednesday, April 21, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S4183]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                OVERTIME

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I will take 1 last minute to thank Secretary 
Chao for the work she did on overtime. We had a lot of discussions 
about the proposed overtime rule that was put out for comment. What you 
saw on this floor was an action to try to stop reviewing the 80,000 
comments that have come in. We allowed her to look at those 80,000 
comments. I commend the Secretary for the work she did in paying 
attention to what people were saying. We don't see much of that in the 
Government, but the Department of Labor, under Secretary Chao, took a 
look at what people have been saying and made corrections in the rule 
before the final rule was published.
  She raised the amount to the maximum. We had already raised the 
amount on the minimum. She made sure that first responders would not 
lose overtime; that nurses would not lose overtime; and that veterans 
trained and going into the job force would not lose overtime.
  I commend her for reading those 80,000 letters. I commend her and the 
Department for taking the corrective action. Doing the process makes a 
difference. She did the process and she made sure they responded.
  I yield the floor. I reserve the remainder of our time.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Alaska.

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