[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 11, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E485]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         RECOGNIZING CONGRESSIONAL WORKERS' RIGHTS TO ORGANIZE

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ROBERT C. ``BOBBY'' SCOTT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 11, 2022

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 
1096, to ensure that House staffers have the same fundamental rights to 
organize and collectively bargain as workers across the Nation. Unions 
play an essential role in providing higher wages, better benefits, and 
safer workplaces. For decades, unions workers have consistently enjoyed 
10- to 20-percent higher wages than their non-union counterparts. The 
benefits of union membership are so strong that studies show even the 
children of union workers enjoy greater economic mobility.
  Unions also narrow both the racial wealth gap and the gender pay gap. 
Union members of color have almost five times the median wealth of 
their non-union counterparts. Moreover, unions close the gender wage 
gap almost completely, whereas on average non-union women are paid 78 
cents for every dollar paid to non-union men.
  Ultimately, unions provide workers with a voice on the job--and this 
proved to be critical during the pandemic. While the entire economy 
suffered from massive job losses throughout the pandemic, union workers 
suffered fewer job losses because they were able to bargain for fewer 
layoffs and safer workplaces.
  As the Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, I have led 
legislation that ensures workers can form and access all the benefits 
of a union. These rights should also be extended to House staffers.
  House staffers are central to moving our country forward. They help 
constituents find affordable health care coverage and access social 
security benefits; they ensure Members of Congress can hear directly 
from the people; and they help draft legislation that protects and 
strengthens our democracy.
  As I have repeatedly said, joining a union is a fundamental right--
and that must hold true for House employees, too.
  I thank Speaker Pelosi, Leader Hoyer, Congresswoman Lofgren, 
Congressman Levin, and so many others for their leadership on this 
important issue.

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