[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 132 (Wednesday, July 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S5119]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Nominations of Gwynne A. Wilcox and David M. Prouty
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, over the past 4 years, the National Labor
Relations Board, which was founded to protect workers' rights, has
again and again tipped the scales in favor of very large corporations.
While Democratic nominees to the NLRB were blocked and anti-worker
nominees were jammed through, we saw decades of worker protections
reversed. This has had a devastating impact on workers in our country,
who are not only struggling through this pandemic but who have also
seen their rights to strike and organize and bargain collectively
undermined and constrained in ruling after ruling.
But, today, the Senate has the opportunity to begin healing this
damage by confirming two exceptionally qualified individuals. That is
why I am urging all of our colleagues to join me in supporting David
Prouty and Gwynne Wilcox to serve on the NLRB.
Mr. Prouty's career is defined by his commitment to workers, with a
long record representing textile workers, hotel workers, restaurant
workers, baseball players, and now as a lawyer for the SEIU Local 32BJ,
property service workers.
Ms. Wilcox's experience as a field attorney for the NLRB, as a lawyer
representing workers before the Board, and defending healthcare workers
and protecting their rights makes clear that she has the right
qualifications and values for this job.
Ms. Wilcox is not only a high-qualified nominee, she will be a
historic one. She will be the first Black woman to serve on the Board,
and her confirmation will bring us a step closer to ensuring our worker
protections Agencies represent the diverse workforce they serve.
It is clear to me we need David Prouty and Gwynne Wilcox on the NLRB
to reverse the damage done by years of anti-worker attacks and get us
back on the right track of building back an economy that works for
everyone, not just huge corporations and those at the top.
Now more than ever, we need to join with workers and defend their
rights. Today, that means voting to confirm Gwynne Wilcox and David
Prouty.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll
Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so
ordered.