Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) voted in favor of H.R.2474, the Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2019. Pascrell cosponsors this comprehensive legislation that would strengthen protections for unionization and help millions of working Americans bargain for higher wages, better benefits, and safer working conditions.

“America’s workforce is the backbone of our economy,” said Rep. Pascrell, who has led efforts in Congress to protect and expand workers’ rights. “After the Supreme Court’s disastrous Janus decision and deliberate policy choices by states to strip workers of their right to negotiate for decent wages, benefits, and working conditions, the House today is standing up for the protection and preservation of unions nationwide. Every single working American deserves a fair shot to succeed in today’s economy. But corporations and the wealthy continue to grow their slice of the pie while working families and middle-class Americans are being left behind. Our bill restores fairness to this balance by protecting workers’ right to join a union. I salute the leadership of my friend, Chairman Bobby Scott, in moving this bill forward and I now urge my Senate colleagues to approve it swiftly.”

Rep. Pascrell uses his position on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee to help protect workers’ rights and defend unionization nationwide. He was a vehement opponent of the Supreme Court’s 2018 Janus decision which imposed so-called right-to-work laws on public sector unions. Pascrell also rejected Donald Trump’s renegotiated NAFTA deal, citing its lack of protection mechanisms for American labor. Prior to the bill’s signing, Pascrell had repeatedly emphasized that any new NAFTA agreement must contain strong enforceable labor provisions that could be implemented and then monitored meaningfully.

Pascrell is also a strong supporter of legislation to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour and give up to 27 million Americans a much deserved pay raise. He also supports efforts to restore workers' rights by removing obstacles that prevent workers from choosing whether they want to form or join a union. In addition, Pascrell has been a tireless opponent of threats to federal labor standards, committed to ensuring that all workers can achieve economic prosperity in the safest conditions. Important to this approach are regulations backed by an unfettered Occupational Health and Safety Administration and a National Labor Relations Board equipped with the tools to protect the right to organize.