[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 64 (Wednesday, May 8, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             THE SO-CALLED WORKING FAMILIES FLEXIBILITY ACT

  (Mr. SWALWELL of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SWALWELL of California. Today is just a few days before Mother's 
Day, and the House Republican leadership has this House considering the 
so-called Working Families Flexibility Act on the floor.
  This bill is no Mother's Day bouquet, but instead it amounts to a 
bunch of dead flowers. It denies working mothers--like my mother, who 
still works today as a secretary and is a part of our middle class--and 
other hardworking Americans the flexibility they need. This bill only 
gives flexibility to employers.
  Under this misguided legislation, employers would have the 
flexibility to substitute compensation time for overtime pay. This 
legislation makes it less expensive for employees to work overtime, 
encouraging employers to demand more overtime, leading to more work and 
less pay.
  Instead, we should be voting on priorities for working families like 
equal pay for all, raising the minimum wage, and giving hardworking 
Americans true flexibility. Unfortunately, the majority just does not 
understand the needs of working Americans.
  Today, I will be voting ``no'' on H.R. 1406 because I will defend 
hardworking moms like my mom and others who rely often on overtime pay 
to make ends meet.
  I urge my colleagues to stand up for working families. Vote ``no'' on 
H.R. 1406 and give working moms what they deserve this Mother's Day, 
which is equal pay for equal work.

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