Udall Statement Opposing Effort to Roll Back Fair Pay and Workplace Protections

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Tom Udall released the following statement against repealing the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order through a little-used procedure made possible by the Congressional Review Act (CRA). The Senate began debating the measure after a procedural motion was agreed to by a slim majority, 51-46. A final vote on the Republican-backed effort to overturn the worker protections implemented by the Obama administration is expected early next week. This is one of over a dozen rules targeted by Republicans who want to roll back protections for workers, consumers and the environment.

"Americans and New Mexico workers deserve protection from discrimination and unsafe working conditions, especially if their employer is benefiting from a government contract funded with the taxpayers' money. I strongly oppose the efforts to roll back federal agency contracting rules under the 2014 Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces Executive Order that will help us ensure that employers who contract with the federal government are complying with fair and ethical labor standards. Removing these common-sense rules that primarily require federal contractors to report on whether they are following existing civil rights laws and practicing ethical labor standards will take us back to a time when American workers did not feel safe at their place of work and employers could discriminate against employees based on race, sex, age and disability. I will fight to keep these necessary protections in place so workers throughout New Mexico and the nation are treated with the fairness and consideration they deserve."