House Votes
Worker Rights
1. House Passes Minimum Wage Increase
As promised by House Democratic leaders, during the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress the House took up legislation to increase the minimum wage by $2.10 over two years. This was a “clean” bill, without any tax breaks for corporations and the rich, or any “poison pill” amendments rolling back protections for other workers. The UAW and the rest of the labor movement strongly supported this long overdue increase in the minimum wage. The House approved this measure by a vote of 315-116 (R 82-116; 233-0). Jan. 10.
2. House Rejects Black Listing Amendment
During consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) offered a dangerous amendment that would have outlawed a union organizing tactic known as “salting,” under which individuals seek employment with a company in order to help organize the workplace. The Supreme Court has expressly upheld this organizing tactic. By outlawing salting, the King amendment would have sanctioned the use of notorious “black lists” by employers, who could routinely refuse to hire any workers suspected of being pro-union. Thanks to the strong opposition of the UAW and other unions, the House rejected this amendment by a vote of 164-264 (R 162-34; D 2-230). March 1.
3. House Defeats GOP Effort to Outlaw Card Check Recognition
During debate on the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), Rep. Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) offered a substitute proposal that would have prohibited employers from voluntarily agreeing to recognize a union through the majority sign up process. In recent years, workers have increasingly used the majority sign up process to organize. The McKeon amendment would have turned back the clock on worker rights by denying employees the ability to use this process, even where the company is willing to accept this procedure. The UAW and other unions strongly opposed this amendment, and it was rejected by a vote of 173-256 (R 172-26; 1-230). March 1.
4. House Passes Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) (H.R. 800) was one of the top priorities for the UAW and other unions during the 110th Congress. This labor law reform bill would require employers to recognize a union whenever a majority of the workers sign authorization cards indicating that they want to be represented by the union (majority sign up).
It also would provide for mediation and arbitration in first contract situations, and would increase penalties on companies that violate workers’ rights to organize and bargain collectively. In our judgment, this legislation is essential to restore the right of workers to organize, free from employer interference and intimidation. Thanks to a great grass roots campaign by UAW and other union members, the House passed EFCA by a vote of 241-185 (R 13-183; D 228-2). March 1.
Health Care
5. House Approves Legislation to Require Medicare to Negotiate Drug Price Discounts
During the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, the House also took up legislation crafted by the Democratic leadership to require Medicare to negotiate drug price discounts from the pharmaceutical companies. Since the Department of Veterans Affairs already negotiates for lower drug prices, there is no reason why Medicare can’t do this. This measure would result in savings that could be passed along to beneficiaries by reducing their premiums and overall costs for prescription drugs. The UAW and a broad coalition of labor, senior and other groups strongly supported this legislation. The House approved this bill by a vote of 255-170 (R 24-170; D 231-0). Jan. 12.
6. House Passes Bill to Expand Health Insurance Coverage for Poor
Children
The UAW and a broad coalition of progressive groups strongly supported legislation to reauthorize and expand the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP). The House and Senate initially approved different versions of this legislation. But in September, Democratic Congressional leaders fashioned a compromise bill that provided $35 billion in additional funding to provide health care coverage to 4 million more children in low income families. Despite the opposition of the Bush administration, the House passed this compromise SCHIP bill by a vote of 265-159 (R 45-151; D 220-8). Sept. 25.
7. House Fails to Override Bush’s Veto of SCHIP Legislation
President Bush vetoed the compromise legislation that would have provided $35 billion in additional funds to extend health insurance coverage to 4 million more children in low income families. House Democratic leaders then tried to override this ill-advised veto. But this effort failed by a vote of 273-156 (R 44-154; D 229-2). Oct. 18. A two-thirds majority of those present and voting (286 in this case) in both chambers is required to override a veto.
Trade
8. House Passes Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Package
The UAW and other unions strongly supported legislation crafted by House Democratic leaders that made significant reforms to the trade adjustment assistance (TAA) program. This included a significant increase in funding for the program, as well as improvements that would enable more workers to qualify for assistance. It also included improvements to the health care tax credit to make it easier for laid off workers to continue their health insurance coverage. In addition, this legislative package included labor-backed measures to modernize and expand eligibility under state unemployment insurance programs, and to strengthen the advance notification requirements under the WARN Act in plant closing and mass layoff situations. With our support, the House easily passed this legislative package by a vote of 264-157 (R 38-155; D 226-2). Oct. 31.
Budget and Taxes
9. House Approves Democratic Budget Plan
Democratic congressional leaders crafted a budget plan for FY 2008 that would achieve a surplus by FY 2012, while maintaining the discipline of pay-as-you-go rules for both spending and tax cuts. At the same time, this budget plan rejected the inadequate funding levels proposed by the Bush administration for important domestic programs. The UAW was particularly pleased that this budget plan included $50 billion to expand the SCHIP, as well as additional funding for veterans’ health care benefits and education programs. The budget plan also continued tax provisions that help working families, and a temporary fix to prevent the alternative minimum tax from hitting millions of additional middle class families. The House approved the conference report on this Democratic budget plan by a vote of 214-209 (R 0-196; D 214-13). May 17.
10. House Backs Increased Funding for Key Domestic Programs
The UAW supported the conference report on the Labor-Health-Education appropriations bill, which provided increased funding for health care, education and other vital domestic programs. This included increased funding for Pell Grants, job training, state unemployment insurance, workplace health and safety and other programs that benefit working families. The House passed this legislation by a vote of 274-141 (R 51-141; D 223-0). Nov. 8. However, President Bush subsequently vetoed this legislation, and the House was not able to override his veto.
Civil and Human Rights
11. House Approves DC Voting Rights
The UAW and our civil rights allies supported the District of Columbia Voting Rights Act of 2007 (DC VRA), which would give the citizens of the District of Columbia a vote in the House of Representative. Currently, D.C. residents have no voting representation in Congress, despite the fact that they pay federal taxes, sit on federal juries, and serve in the armed forces. To correct this decision, the House approved this bill by a vote of 241-177 (R 22-171; D 219-6). April 19.
12. House Passes Hate Crimes Prevention Bill
The UAW and our allies in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights (LCCR) strongly supported legislation that would strengthen federal hate crimes law by removing unnecessary obstacles to federal prosecutions and by providing authority for federal involvement in a wider category of bias-motivated crimes. This legislation would help to combat the epidemic of hate crimes by authorizing federal involvement in the prosecution of violent crimes based on race, color, religion and national origin, as well as gender, sexual orientation and disability. The House passed this hate crimes prevention legislation by a vote of 237-180 (R 25-166; D 212-14). May 3.
13. House Approves Bill to Restore Remedies for Equal Pay Violations
In the Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber case, the Supreme Court held that the statute of limitations for bringing pay discrimination claims under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 begins to run from the day a pay decision is originally made, rather than from when the employee is subject to the decision or injured by it. This terrible decision was a sharp departure from precedent, and would greatly limit the ability of workers to seek redress for unlawful pay discrimination. The UAW and our civil rights allies strongly supported legislation to overturn this decision, and it was approved by the House by a vote of 225-199 (2-193; D 223-6). July 31.
Iraq War
14. House Opposes Iraq Troop Surge
The UAW and a broad range of organizations strongly opposed President Bush’s plan to expand the number of U.S. combat troops in Iraq. In our judgment, it was wrong to send more U.S. troops into harm’s way by placing them in the midst of the sectarian conflict in Iraq. This only postponed the day when Iraq’s leaders will have to assume responsibility for a politically negotiated settlement between the rival factions in their country. In February the House took up a resolution expressing support for U.S. military personnel serving in Iraq, but disapproving of President Bush’s decision to escalate the number of troops deployed there. With our support, the House passed this resolution opposing the Iraq troop surge by a vote of 246-182 (R 17-180; D 229-2). Feb. 16.
