▶ 0:13:04Just a moment. Sorry. Well, good morning.
▶ 0:13:23The uh subcommittee will come to order and uh I want to welcome uh the uh secretary of labor uh Chavez Dimemer and we welcome you to the U subcommittee today and u particularly the subcommittee on labor health and human services and education uh for this hearing on the department of labor's fiscal year 2026 budget request.
▶ 0:13:46Uh I uh want to congratulate you on your bipartisan confirmation as secretary uh and look forward to working with you especially in this new role that you're you have uh um uh started just a few months ago. Um, of course, the role of the Department of Labor is to foster, is to promote and develop the welfare of wage earners in the United States, to improve their working conditions, and to advance their opportunities for profitable employment.
▶ 0:14:17Unfortunately, uh, under the previous administration, the agency was too often exceeded it exceeded its statuary authority and attempted to implement a regulatory agenda that had it not been rejected by the American public in the last year's elections would have crippled American job creators and undermined the ability of the American workers to secure economic opportunities they need to support their families.
▶ 0:14:41Moreover, the department was more interested in catering to beltwaybased liberal social policy concerns rather than responding to the real needs of American workers, job seekers, and employers. These misguided harmful regulatory proposals included an OSHA requirement that if not found unconstitutional by the Supreme Court would have required Americans to receive the COVID 19 vaccinations as a prerequisite for employment.
▶ 0:15:12Also, it would have included a wage in hour regulation that would have ended freelance and independent work opportunities, particularly important to workers with caregiving responsibilities who value flexibility, and also a change to overtime regulations that would have reduced worker opportunity for career advancements. More than 47,000 businesses in Alabama employ over 47% of private sector workers in the state.
▶ 0:15:43Many of the small businesses in the district that I represent are family farms. No industry suffered more under the harmful regulation regime of the previous administration than the American farmer because of an increase in the H2A adverse effect wage rates.
▶ 0:16:01And so, Madam Secretary, I look forward to working with you and your agency uh as well as USDA to address this adverse effect wage rate uh issue and uh supporting this vital industry going forward. President Trump's election and your subsequent confirmation is a breath of fresh air um not only for the American worker but also for the job creators.
▶ 0:16:27No longer will American businesses have to fear regulatory overreach or enforcement actions designed to punish employers and limit their success. Madam Secretary, while the department's regulatory matters are frequently contentious, we have often been able to find bipartisan common ground on skills training. uh produce positive outcomes for workers and job seekers.
▶ 0:16:53uh putting a priority on what should should be the end goal of all workforce development programs which is a job. These programs only exist where businesses choose to adopt this intensive approach to human capital management. We have seen support for these programs flourish under multiple administrations and I hope that we will continue to build out these opportunities.
▶ 0:17:19The Alabama Office of Apprenticeship was a was in part created uh to respond to employer frustration with the Department of Labor's management of the registered apprenticeship program. These frustrations included a bureaucratic and outdated one-sizefits-all approach to skills training with overly prescriptive requirements.
▶ 0:17:41Too often under the previous administration, the Department of Labor showed favoritism in reviewing apprenticeship program applications and in the name of equity and inclusion would have turned a two-page law into a 776 page rule that would have reduced opportunities for American workers of all race and both sexes.
▶ 0:18:04We should be ensuring that American workers and job seekers have direct access to career pathways that work for them and not adding 776 layers of Byzantine mazes to navigate. Apprenticeships represent an opportunity and a pathway to highpaying jobs. Unfortunately, the barriers to growth of this career training model will not be solved through funding alone.
▶ 0:18:30improved uh program and administration and more effective leadership at and by the department can better support the adop the adoption of registered apprenticeships for workers for our uh nation's workforce. I'm hopeful that as we work through this shortened budget year that we're able to once again find some common ground as we move forward. And um and I'm not only hopeful, but I I am I I feel like we will be able to do that.
▶ 0:19:00And I know that this subcommittee looks forward to hearing from your testimony today and uh asking questions about the budget and the policies that uh you are over at your department. Uh but at this time before you uh begin your opening remarks I would like to yield to the ranking member Rosa Delaro uh for her opening statement. Mr. recognized.
▶ 0:19:21Thank you very much Chairman Alerhot for holding this hearing important hearing on uh uh what I regard as and know this is of I want to start out with what I believe is uh President Trump's anti-worker budget request for the Department of Labor. Secretary Chavez de Durmer Darmer. Thank you. Um, welcome. And I' I've said to you on the phone, it's great to see a House colleague here and and congratulations to you. Big job.
▶ 0:19:50And I I would just say personally that I've always spent a lot of time, we've been on this committee, I think uh full committee for 32 years and the same amount of time on the subcommittee. Um, and I've always believed that the Department of Labor, um, with regard to resources has been shortchanged. Uh, so I'm not saying anything different than I have, uh, over the years to whatever administration there has been.
▶ 0:20:15But I particularly, um, uh, really regard um, the president's budget request uh, uh, for the Department of Labor as um, anti-worker. Um uh let me start out by saying I don't take protections of American workers lightly. On Friday I joined more than 3,000 striking machinists on the picket line at Prattton Whitney's plants in East Hartford and Middletown, Connecticut.
▶ 0:20:43As they fight for fair wages and for job security, unions built the middle class in this nation. They are the reason why we have a minimum wage, a weekend, overtime pay, and better working conditions. And I will always fight for trade unions in the Congress. I'm the daughter of a garment worker.
▶ 0:21:07My mother worked in the old sweat shops in the city of New Haven sewing shirt collars uh and was peacework for for pennies where I visited. She had me meet her there every day after school. And I didn't realize the method of her madness until I was an adult and that her admonition to me and watching those women hunched over those sewing machines, not taking a lunch break.
▶ 0:21:32And in the needle trades, if you get the needle in your finger, you don't go and get a tetanis shot. You just pull away. You wrap it up because if you get a drop of blood on the garment, you do not get paid for it. And my mother's admonition to me was get an education so that you don't have to do this. And so I've been an advocate for workers, for working people, for unions, and for better working conditions. The conditions she worked in were deplorable, and the American people earned and deserve far better.
▶ 0:22:03Our country's history is a story of desperately hard-fought progress for the rights of the American worker. And Madam Secretary, let me be clear. We will not go backwards. Not for Elon Musk and any other billionaires who want to pillillage the middle class, continue extracting and hoarding extraordinary wealth, and not for the corporations lining up at the White House for special privileges and for tax breaks. To that end, I strongly oppose your proposal to cut the funding for the Department of Labor by $4.7 billion.
▶ 0:22:34I believe it's a 35% hatchet job to the crucial programs that help workers gain the skills to secure middle class jobs and to the agencies whose mission it is to protect the safety, health, and hard-fought rights of American workers. But before we talk about your request to really suffocate, I believe your own department next year, I want to talk about what's happening right now. The American people are demanding help with the cost of living.
▶ 0:23:02President Trump is not laser focused on the cost of living crisis. He's actually making it worse. He promised to fight for workers, but instead he put Elon Musk and billionaires in charge of the government. Madam Secretary, this administration is recklessly and unlawfully freezing and stealing congressionally appropriated funds from agencies, programs, and services across the government that serve the American people.
▶ 0:23:29And the Congress holds the power of the purse. It is in the Constitution, Article 1, Section 9, Clause 7. President Trump, Elon Musk, and as you being secretary, you're attacking job training programs, labor protections to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. Government should fight for the middle class, for working class, for the vulnerable, not for the interests of billionaires like Elon Musk.
▶ 0:23:54Already in fulfilling Musk's agenda rather than fighting for the needs of American workers, you canled more than two dozen women in apprenticeship and non-traditional occupations. The Wanto program, Wanto grants that support women in trades like construction, manufacturing, information technology. These are so so many of the in demand jobs today in communities nationwide. And yet women make less up less than 25% of the workforce in those sectors.
▶ 0:24:22It's not serious that how can we take you seriously on economic issues that mattered most to American families when we are turning our back on the women in the workforce. One of your first actions as secretary was to cancel grants funded by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs ILAP.
▶ 0:24:41that's around the world demonstrating that we're not serious about trade partners and asking them to live up to their labor commitments to America so that we can protect the jobs for workers here in America when they undercut the standards that we have and they undercut the American worker.
▶ 0:25:02The recklessness sells out American workers by turning a blind eye to countries relying on exploitative labor conditions, including child labor and forced labor, to sell a high volume of lowcost goods here in the United States. By cutting these programs, you are waving a white flag to the countries that will steal American manufacturing jobs from us.
▶ 0:25:24What else could explain your decision to cancel countless grants that make sure me Mexico fulfills the US MCA labor commitments? Specifically, grants to implement critical labor justice reforms and strengthen Mexico's enforcement of labor laws. If this is your plan to complement President Trump's reckless and rudderless trade policy, then American workers and manufacturers are in for a brutal awakening.
▶ 0:25:50At best, do you not understand your AY's responsibility to make sure American workers are not ripped off by our trade partners. At worst, there seems to be not a care if American workers lose manufacturing jobs to other countries with non-existent labor standards.
▶ 0:26:10Either way, I think that your tenure as Secretary of Labor has been hamp hampering the American workforce, and I intend to hold you accountable. I want to work with you, but I'm going to hold you accountable on behalf of American workers. That is the role and the function of the Department of Labor. And under your leadership and the president's scheme to tax families and businesses even more, we are not on a path to restoring critical manufacturing jobs and boosting American productivity.
▶ 0:26:39We are on a path where it only lead to fewer jobs and higher costs to Americans. It is reported that you plan to fire 90% of staff at the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, leaving just 50 employees to to conduct civil rights investigations, enforce equal employment opportunity law, rectify pay disparities for women, and pro protect the rights of some 3.6 million federal contractors.
▶ 0:27:04There are already reports that you have placed many of these staff on administrative leave. This is all happening today, right now. We're not talking about hypotheticals or whatifs or worst case scenarios. This destruction of support for workers has happened. It is happening today. Turning to your budget request for 2026.
▶ 0:27:25We're well into May with only a skinny budget and the administration has provided almost no details about its proposal to cut the Department of Labor by $4.7 billion. That's a staggering cut of 35%. But we do know that the American workforce will bear the brunt of that cut. A central component of your plan is to eliminate WEOA. That's the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
▶ 0:27:53We owe adult and youth programs and replace them with a block grant to states. But you propose to provide $1.6 billion dollars less to train America's workforce. A block grant is a cut. You go to any state in this nation. You tell them there's a block. They know it's a cut. And we know it's a cut. States cannot afford to pick up the slack.
▶ 0:28:16Eliminating Guoa adult job training would deny job training employment service for more than 300,000 adults who need help to find a good paying job. Eliminating Guora youth job training would rob 135,000 young people of employment opportunities. In fact, Chairman Adhalt and this subcommittee held a hearing in February on quote innovations from community colleges and the private sector end quote.
▶ 0:28:41And one of his invited witnesses, Dennis Parker from Toyota, USA, testified about the critical roles of WEOA resources in setting up and scaling the Alabama Federation of Advanced MA Manufacturing Education, the FAME program.
▶ 0:28:56He said, and I quote, "Strategic federal funding such as resources allocated through WEOA plays a cru crucial role in scaling workforce training pro programs like FAME by allowing employer collaboratives to direct funds towards specific training needs. These help institutions acquire equipment, build facilities, hire instructors, critical elements for launching and sustaining highquality programs." End quote.
▶ 0:29:23Madam Secretary, your proposed cuts would abandon employers like those in Alabama and all around the country, and job seekers looking for opportunities would suffer the consequences. You propose to eliminate JobCore, where we know that there are more than 10,000 youngsters waiting to get in, as well as the senior community service employment program, setting back our efforts to help low-income youth and seniors who are looking for work.
▶ 0:29:52So far, we have seen zero details, but the sheer magnitude of your cuts mean that you must be aiming to slash worker protection agencies by close to $1 billion. Will those cuts be to the Occupational Safety and Healthy Administration, OSHA, jeopardizing the lives and safety of workers toiling some of the most the nation's most hazardous conditions like meat packing, poultry, and agriculture.
▶ 0:30:18And I told you about the conditions that my mother worked in. Or will you be cutting the wage and hour division which makes sure that Americans get paid for the work they perform, ensures that children who should be in school are not instead being exploited in the fields or on the factory floor. Many madam secretary I want to know how the department of labor will be able to form its function protect the American workforce while under this hatchet.
▶ 0:30:49The American people deserve to know what will become of the programs and protections that so many workers throughout our nation's history fought and died for. I understand the administration is eager to find a way to pay for tax breaks for billionaires, but doing so by dismantling protections from workers, stealing from job seekers, throwing the middle class and our workers livelihoods under the bus is indefensible. We are in the middle of a cost of living crisis.
▶ 0:31:18Yourself and Elon Musk and President Trump will be making it worse. Republicans in Congress could stop the mayhem, could stop the chaos and the destruction today if they had the courage. They remain silent, petrified of the president's scorn, his revenge, or his retaliation. Those of us in elected office, and we are blessed to serve.
▶ 0:31:43We have the moral responsibility to work in behalf and provide the services to the American people. We know what's right and we know what's wrong. and we understand the harm that's being wrought on the American people. We need to stand up. We need not to be afraid because this is the time to meet the moment.
▶ 0:32:03As a leading Democrat on the Appropriations Committee, I assure you we'll never stop fighting against this dangerous dismantling of the Department of Labor and its agencies, which is jeopardizing the paychecks of middle class working families and the vulnerable and undermining the safety and the health of our workers. I thank you. I look forward to your testimony and yes, I do look forward to working with you. I yield back. Thank you. Thank you. All right.
▶ 0:32:33Uh we again we're glad to have you here uh Madam Secretary and uh we have received your uh statement. It will be included in the record, but uh certainly uh we you're now give your open remarks and we look forward to hearing from you and as we follow up with questions. Thanks, Chairman Adter Holtz, Ranking Member Deloro, and members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the invitation to testify today. It's an honor to appear before the subcommittee to share the important work the administration is doing at the Department of Labor.
▶ 0:33:03It's a privilege to serve as the 30th Secretary of Labor and to lead the department's efforts on behalf of President Trump and the American workforce. My role as secretary is to ensure the American worker is at the center of the economic strategy. The middle class, union workers, and small businesses have given us a clear mandate. It is my job to guarantee those men and women are not just heard, but respected and prioritized at every level of government.
▶ 0:33:31From the moment I was sworn in on March 11th, I promised to put American workers first. And that mission has guided my work from the very beginning. Through common sense reforms, we will focus the Department of Labor on the same purpose. Saving taxpayer resources while safeguarding protections that are critical to the health and well-being of our workforce like enforcement efforts, inspectors, and investigators. Additionally, I'm committed to having an open door policy with every worker.
▶ 0:34:00As their liaison and advocate, I am committed to painting an accurate picture of laborers needs and concerns to the president. I launch my listening tour, America at Work, to hear directly from the men and women on the ground who are living this day in and day out. These insights and experiences are imperative to shaping federal labor policies and practices. I told my team when I began this tour that I want to visit all 50 states to better understand the regional workforce needs, and we're making good headway.
▶ 0:34:31I've held many meetings with local leaders to learn more ways that the federal government can help develop a skilled workforce, improve infrastructure to attract businesses and investment, prioritize workers, and identify smart regulations that expand economic opportunity and drive job growth.
▶ 0:34:48From a training facility demonstration with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers in Pennsylvania to a day spent with students learning to become aviation mechanics in Nevada, I am experiencing and relaying the challenges and triumphs of America at work. We have a responsibility to turn these stories into actions through smart reforms and federal solutions that deliver real results. This worker centric approach is part of the broader economic momentum President Trump is driving with more than 8 trillion in private investment.
▶ 0:35:18So far, Americans are seeing great progress in the growth of our jobs, our economy, and our competitive edge. To further stimulate economic growth, the Trump administration is overhauling the waste, fraud, and abuse that has characterized the federal government's use of tax dollars for decades. The Department of Labor is eliminating unnecessary red tape that stifles innovation. We are on track to restore freedom and purchasing power to hardworking men and women.
▶ 0:35:44For example, the Department of Labor recently uncovered 4.4 4 billion of unspent and unusable COVID funding as an actively working to return that money to the Treasury in its entirety. When Americans hard-earned tax dollars are wasted, more of their paychecks can go to things that actually matter. Putting food on the table, gas and cars, and providing stability for our families. Workers are the cornerstone of our economic comeback, and that's exactly why America First policies matter.
▶ 0:36:12I stand ready to equip, train, and support our workforce so they can thrive in in an everchanging job market. Pursuant to two critical executive orders, my department is hard at work to collaborate with the departments of commerce and education to unlock the potential of the American worker. We are looking to strengthen registered apprenticeships, modernize workforce development programs, and invest in opportunities that upscale to meet the current labor market demands.
▶ 0:36:39As part of the new White House task force on artificial intelligence education, I am also excited to identify new avenues to prepare the American workforce for techn technological advances and challenges of the future. This task remains at the forefront of the president's artificial intelligence agenda. I'm confident that by revitalizing our workforce and preparing workers for the jobs of tomorrow, we are breathing life into the American dream.
▶ 0:37:05I believe, as you all do, that we must work together to foster the economy that ensures every American can thrive with good pay, safe working conditions, and a secure retirement. It is my honor to work on behalf of President Trump as we all bring back jobs to the United States and put the American worker first again. I look forward to working with Congress and each and every one of you on these important goals. And I look forward to our discussion here today. Thank you. Thank you.
▶ 0:37:35uh madam secretary and uh we appreciate your uh opening statement and uh we look forward to uh doing our round of questions and u we'll eat all the members will have uh five minutes um you know I try to be a little bit lenient on the the fivem minute rule because sometimes you're in the middle of a question or in the middle of an answer and uh to finish that thought but obviously uh to make sure that we have time for everybody and there'll be members that'll be coming in and out we I do appreciate all the membersh when
▶ 0:38:05I start tapping to start wrapping up as we as we move forward. Uh I'd like to start out by asking about the adverse effect wage rates. Um and as as uh you well know family farms are essential to uh the economy of of all America, but uh in particular I see in the econ in the economy of the district I represent and in North Alabama.
▶ 0:38:26Unfortunately, um, under the previous administration, the H2A labor rates required of agriculture employers employers became more and more unaffordable and actually to the point that many family farms and special specialty crop growers are at risk of being forced to close their farms.
▶ 0:38:48I know this is an issue that you are very familiar with and uh because of that I want you to uh commit to working with us and to ensure the family farms are able to maintain this operations and so I would just ask you if uh you would be willing to do that as we move forward and any comments that you'd like to make about that. Yeah, thank you chairman. Absolutely.
▶ 0:39:11I want to work with each and every one of you to understand the complexities of really what's happening across the country as far as it relates to the any of the H programs but particularly H2A. As a former member, I did serve on the H2A subcommittee um through agriculture as I sat on that committee to develop what is working and what's not. And the one-sizefits-all, as we know throughout Congress, isn't always the case. Um, you know, the department has already received almost 19,000 H2A applications from the employers, which is a 9% increase in the workload that we're seeing.
▶ 0:39:41I know agriculture and this uh AER or the wage rate is a real concern for our farmers, ranchers, and producers. Um but what I do have to mention of course as you know um that this is rule is subject to litigation and it really precludes me and I know that today most of you will ask a lot of questions that while they're in that uh reality and in that realm I will not be able to comment on that.
▶ 0:40:04But what I will say is I am sensitive to the concerns um that we heard from the Biden administration and I am committed to working with you and Secretary Rollins to solve this issue because it has been brought up by not only each and every one of you but almost every member of Congress that is concerned with the rural parts of America and how we're going to fill that workforce. So I am committed to working with you. Thank you.
▶ 0:40:24In my opening remarks, I I talked referred to the apprenticeship programs and uh given the challenges that many employers face in finding well-qualified workers, uh many are turning to apprenticeships um to build their supply line of skilled workers uh as they move as they are in their particular businesses that the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship links talent with opportunity.
▶ 0:40:50Uh given how much I know you've heard about this important issue on your listening tour that you referred to, uh what can the Department of Labor do to support registered apprenticeship and all forms of work-based learning? Yeah, I'm telling you, um as we've been on this tour, I have visited over eight states uh since I was sworn in and we'll get to all 50 states before the end of the year. Um, as was mentioned, there have been plenty of secretaries before me, despite whatever party, that they want to get around and understand the workforce.
▶ 0:41:19But it doesn't make any sense to me that we wouldn't do this on the front end at the very beginning to understand. But through the executive order of the president, 1 million apprentices is the goal for this country. We are just about we range between 680,000 to 700,000 at a time. So, we have a ways to go, but I was just see the investments. Uh, I was just in Ohio as well. Um and the Department of Labor is going to be focused on fulfilling that. And we know that every sector and every um needs more and it's not just in the traditional trades.
▶ 0:41:49We're seeing it across the board. So we will work with every industry to expand apprenticeship programs across the nation in order to fulfill the president's executive order for 1 million apprentices for that pipeline of the future workforce of America. Thank you. Thank you. And before my time expires, under the previous administration, certainty around the religious exemption for organizations that contract with federal government. The rule allowed religious organizations to operate according to the religious beliefs while participating as a federal contractor.
▶ 0:42:17Uh without this important rule in place, what steps will the Department of Labor take to ensure that religious organizations receive fair treatment and protection in the federal contracting process? Yeah, thank you. um on that um as the office of OFCCP is again um under litigation I would like to work with your office to fulfill that answer for you um when it's available. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Laurel.
▶ 0:42:47Thank you very much Mr. Chairman and I was delighted Madam Secretary to hear you talk about a worker centered uh department um as it should be and that's also true of our trade agreements need to be worker center as well.
▶ 0:43:00Um, you promised, and I quote, to bring back jobs to the United States, but one of your first acts as secretary was cancelling all pro projects funded by the Bureau of International Labor Affairs, ILAP, including the countless projects to make sure Mexico fulfills its labor commitments under the US Mexico Canada trade agreement, uh, which, uh, which was done with President Trump, uh, helped deal with negotiations with several others, but the that was passed into law by the by the president, cutting These grants
▶ 0:43:31amounts to waving a white flag to countries that will steal many American manufacturing jobs from us because it allows foreign companies to cheat to undercut American jobs. They have lower wages, no labor standards, etc. You get it? You understand that American workers are counting on you to monitor and enforce USMCA labor commitments so that they do not lose the places uh to places with weaker labor standards and institutions. But you and Elon Musk's Doge account characterize these grants as quote America last.
▶ 0:44:02End quote. My question is I'm going to read some of the USMCA projects you can. Tell me how they are America last from your perspective. Strengthening government labor law enforcement in Mexico. You want me to answer individually as you go? Well, thank you again and I know and I appreciate the passion that you have for 30 years that you're serving. I have the exact same passion in just the short amount of time because of my years of experience. So I look forward to working with you on all these issues.
▶ 0:44:27Our goal is to restore accountability and through ILAB and focus the taxpayer dollars for the American worker and business and that has been my focus from the beginning um for one of their instance working with USR Jameson Greer uh in order to address the issues in Mexico. We will be working that together because we're on the same subcommittee together ranking member and we will be focused on that. Just I don't I mean to interrupt, but I'm just saying these are these these projects have been cancelled. Strengthening government labor law in Mexico.
▶ 0:44:56A a a government of Mexico approach to combating child labor. Engaging Mexico's auto sector employers in labor law reform implementation. These projects have been cancelled.
▶ 0:45:10So what is um how do we then deal with maintaining what IB does or did is the making sure that American workers are not um left behind which is looks to me like that's where you are um uh going with this and I'll ask you about Ambassador Greer um uh did did he or anyone else dealing with trade uh was he consulted was involved in
▶ 0:45:40the discussions before these programs were cancelled. Well, a couple of things. One that I want to comment on, you couldn't be more incorrect in saying that I I don't care about child labor or I don't care about what happens with um these agreements. Number two, um but why then cancel the program? But number two, I do have to recommend and say to you all that because these are subject to litigation, I really can't talk about the specific grants. I know you know that and it is no disrespect. I just want you to know and I have no disrespect.
▶ 0:46:09administration that I have a former congressman wish I could share you child labor labor reform all that benefits American workers doesn't put them at a disadvantage is being scuttled is done and we can get no answer as to why that's the case. So I'm my view is that that mission is um is gone. We're not going to be there to to protect uh American workers. Let me move to another American workers my first and foremost focus. Yes.
▶ 0:46:39Well, here. But you can have a focus, but your actions have got to uh tie in with your focus. If your actions are contrary to your focus, then you're not meeting the uh the the mission. Okay. Let me talk about National Apprenticeships Day this year. Um you stated that you quote will personally ensure that the labor department is helping to fulfill our bold goal of exceeding 1 million active apprentices. I'm for that. Registered apprenticeship programs work. They're the best.
▶ 0:47:08However, last week you celebrated with Elon Musk Doge account as you canceled more than two dozen women in the apprenticeship and non-traditional occupations grants, Wanto, which is administered by the W women's bureau. And it supports women in trades like construction and manufacturing, including a grant to North Carolina nonprofit that works with local builders, trains women to enter the construction fields in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill, a grant to a boxy, Mississippi nonprofit that trains women for construction jobs.
▶ 0:47:35You are decimating the Women's Bureau and wantto grants that help women gain vital skills and better paying jobs. Madam Secretary, women make up less than 25% of the workforce in these trades. Why should we believe that your promises on active apprenticeships when you and Elon Musk are cancelling the grants designed to help women fill uh in demand jobs in communities nationwide? Well, thank you. And you should believe me because I am a woman and I am in the workforce and I do care about all American workers.
▶ 0:48:05And we will be focused on those in the labor department as well. And statutoily the women's bureau is in statute. Yes, it is. We will work hard to focus on all American workers. And I cannot say more than that on that grant cuts because it is subject to litigation. Well, I would just say this. If we're going to help women become more than 25% of the folks in those in demand jobs, then the programs that Elon Musk and yourself and the president are terminating, then that does not meet the goal.
▶ 0:48:34So, aside from litigation, it is not going to work to help women in the workforce. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, good morning, Madam Secretary. Good morning. It's a pleasure to see you today and wish you congratulations for stepping up in this role and really so appreciate your leadership, your dedication and and I think almost most importantly your positive attitude that you bring to this job. So thank you profusely for that.
▶ 0:49:03Uh we look forward to working with you. Um appreciated the phone call the other day. Thank you so much. Um, as you know, it is very important to me uh to maintain the integrity of the independent contractor relationship. Um, in my state, the great state of Tennessee, we value this on both sides. Um, and it has worked so well.
▶ 0:49:28Um, and I know earlier this month the department the department's wage and error division issued an announcement that is currently working to reformulate the test uh as to how independent contractor status is determined under the fair labor standards act. And I just wanted to ask you how we can be helpful in that process and uh just thank you for your commitment to maintaining that. Yeah.
▶ 0:49:55So subject to to again as we do the rule making and litigation I can't comment specifically but we did issue through the wage and hour division the uh field assistance bulletin so that there is some certainty for the workforce and how to navigate this until the department of labor continues down the road of of that. So um what I ask is it is about not only working with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to understand what this means in your respective states and you are sharing with with me on how important this is to Tennessee.
▶ 0:50:25Um but again, technical assistance back and forth and how we work together is going to really round out how we're going to move forward in the future on this. But um more flexibility and modernization is what the workforce is asking for. Um and we want to grow the workforce at all costs. So we're going to do everything we can uh to assist you in that. Thank you so much. Um Madam Secretary, um question about jobs corp.
▶ 0:50:49Um, these are skilled trades people, a lot of young Americans who are waiting to uh engage in that program. It's my understanding that currently that may be on hold and I would just like to know when we might expect um some type of resuming of that um enrollment in Jobs Corp. No, thank you um for bringing that up.
▶ 0:51:12Again, there are so many job core centers uh throughout this country that have dedicated time, but um there has been a report that we have released from the Department of Labor most recently in relation to um all of these centers, the JobCore transparency report, and I highly encourage all members of Congress if you have a job core center to take a look at this. And it is publicly available. The JobCore program has a price tag of nearly, you know, $1.7 billion dollars.
▶ 0:51:42um per year and we owe it to the track taxpayers to be transparent about what is happening. So the average cost per student is about $80,000 and the average cost per enroll um regardless of their length of stay is about $50,000. So there have been some um concerns with that and we see the signaling from the president's budget that we want to take a refocus and a relook on are we really focused on where those dollars are going to have the outcome for the workforce. This is a population that we all so deeply care about.
▶ 0:52:10As a member of Congress, I was a JobCore champion. From what I have discovered through this process, I do want to work with each and every one of you in understanding how we move forward to train this population, especially the 16 and 17 year olds that we have. We need everybody in the workforce. And so um we we have no final decision. We'll keep looking as we um do more of this reporting, but I highly encourage I would like to work with each and every one of you individually on this. This is an important issue and I thank you for your response. And I will close by saying this, Madam Secretary.
▶ 0:52:40So appreciate the fact that you want to visit all the great 50 states of the volunteers in including the great volunteer states. So I welcome you to our state. U our state is one of those states where we cherish our employers, our employees, our independent contractor relationships. Uh we are booming in the great state of Tennessee. People are coming um all across our great state. So I do welcome you there and wish you continued success. And with that, Mr. Chair, I'll yield back. Thank you, Congressman.
▶ 0:53:12Mr. Hoyer, thank you very much. Let's try to do a speed round here. Okay. Uh oh. Here we go. You and I went over these on the phone. I'm going to ask the questions I ask you on the phone. Hopefully, we have the answers already. I'm not going to make any promises just yet, but we're going to work together. I miss you on the seventh floor, by the way. We miss you. Every time I get in the elevator, I say, "Where are you? Where are you?" That's where we spent most of our time in the elevator. Okay, let's go quick. Uh, what are the changes to FTEEs from January to now in Department of Labor?
▶ 0:53:41I I I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I missed it. I missed it. What are the changes in FTEEs from January to today? Yeah, I can't I due to litigation, I can't comment on that right now because there's been a stop on the DRRO about any of um what's happening in HR. So due to litigation, I can't Is this part of the transparency uh uh and accountability program that the president talks so much about?
▶ 0:54:08Well, I promise you I I promise you, Congressman, the number is in litigation. Well, as through through whether you legally did what you could do, whether is legally done, that is in litigation. I didn't ask you that question. I said, what's the number now? I can't believe that's in litigation. Well, with with the deferred resignations that have happened, um I don't have a final number of FDAs currently at the Department of Labor as of now.
▶ 0:54:34I do not have that final, but I will get it to you just as soon as we have the final number. Okay. Now, I asked you these questions on the phone. Yep. Uh how many workers took the original buyout? Yeah, exactly. I don't have the exact number because they haven't all signed. It was offered to a lot through the Department of Labor and I don't have the final number for you, but I promise you I will get it to you as soon as I have the final number because not all have decided if that's what they want to do or not. So, and I will have my office brief on it.
▶ 0:55:04So, one of the things I want to know if you have to find this out later. Sure. And I asked you on the phone, how many are still being paid but not working? Yeah. Everybody who had chosen to be in the program, it was through the um administration will be paid through I I think it's September 30th. I don't know if that's right. September 30th. Yes, that's correct. September 30th. Those who chose to do the program. That's very interesting. Those who chose I don't know how many chose. I I don't have the final number either.
▶ 0:55:33I I really don't have the f I'm not making it up. I don't have the final number. It was offered. Not all have signed back and I don't have the final number. No, no, no. I didn't ask you how many were offered. How many signed up and are not working but being paid every day to do what they I don't have that final number, but I will get it to this entire committee. Well, I'm I'm glad you'll do that, but I'm surprised because we had this phone call a week ago and but it it changes. So, I I just don't have it. But when I do, I I will get it for you.
▶ 0:56:01Well, because people have an opportunity to take it as they go along. We I Madam Secretary. Yes, sir. With all due respect, yes, sir. We had a delightful phone call. Yes. And we I gave you the exact questions I was going to answer ask you. Uh, no tricks. I'm not tricking you. No, you're not answering me either. Uh, how many employees were let go but asked to come back? I do not have that number for you today. We went over these a week ago. Yes.
▶ 0:56:31I'm there's no point in having a conversation if we all know our time is short um if if you don't ask your staff to give you these answers. This is not an opaque question. This is a question of how many people are I will get you that number when we have the final numbers in place. I don't want the final number. I want now. That's what I asked about now. I know you can't give me the final number because it's going to be a moving number.
▶ 0:57:03Yes. So, may I answer this for you that from my legal team? 45 days to confirm about 15,000 employ do employees and no one was fired and has come back. Uh, no one was asked to come back. There you go. Correct. 15,000 employees there. No, no, no. That's how many at the Department of Labor. How many How many are gone? We'll have 45 days from the time that they take to confirm those and then I will give you those answers. Yeah.
▶ 0:57:31I I'm Listen, you know me, Congressman. I'm not here to play games either. I take this very seriously and I want to protect the American worker as it's subject to litigation as we've gone through either the the DRPs or the reduction in force. I can't comment any further than that, but I will get you the information just as soon as I can. To your knowledge, was there any study made for Doge or the Department of Labor that justified the removal of those who have been removed or asked to resign?
▶ 0:58:01Yeah, you would ask me that on and I can answer this. I don't know of any study that was done. My premise is that they knew how to do it. They didn't know the consequences. We're going to find out. Let me close with this, a quote. We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected when they wake up in the morning. We want them not to want to go to work because they are increasingly viewed as the villains. We want to put them in trauma. Are you familiar with that quote? No.
▶ 0:58:32That's Russell vote. You are you have just talked about how we all want to be for labor for workers. I absolutely What do you think that does to your workers at Department of Labor and throughout the federal government to talk about them that way? Well, I I'm not familiar with that quote, but I can promise you this. I am for and every focus that I do every single day when I wake up is to focus on the American worker, and I will continue to do so. Thank you very much. I look forward to the numbers. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 0:59:05Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and um thank you, um, Madam Secretary. Thank you for the phone call. Um, I appreciated uh being able to chat with you and and um the questions that I raised and and the answers that you gave me. And so, um um I'm encouraged to hear your commitment to restoring constitutional boundaries and returning power to the states, localities, and most importantly, the American worker.
▶ 0:59:28Today, we face a critical shortage of skilled labor in trades, manufacturing, energy, and other key industries where while millions are burdened with student debt and degrees that really haven't led to better jobs. You know, it's clearly time to rethink the federal workforce investment. Taxpayer dollars should fund results, not rhetoric. And that means cutting ineffective programs and tying funding to clear outcomes like job placement, earnings, and employer partnerships. It also means empowering the private sector.
▶ 0:59:56Employer-driven models with on the job training and realworld experience frequently outperform bloated federal programs. For too long, the federal labor policy has been shaped by sprawling one-sizefits-all programs. I think you mentioned that in your statement with uh regard to political allies and it prioritizes DEI checklists over merit and funds nonprofits that have little to do with advancing real workforce development.
▶ 1:00:21I'm grateful that the Trump administration is reversing course, eliminating waste, and focusing on results. I'm especially encouraged by your support for apprenticeships and skilled trades, practical debt-free paths to success. Uh, federal policy must reflect that college isn't the only way up. Now, trade schools are phenomenal and they have incredible graduation rates and job placement rates upon graduation. So, I also I also share your concerns about JobCore and the senior community service employment program.
▶ 1:00:51These programs have been costly, ineffective, and in some cases unsafe. And the data is clear. Uh you mentioned a a a study that y'all had done, and they're failing those they're meant to serve. So, I thank you and I thank President Trump for eliminating the job core in the budget request. Um, finally, I want to highlight your strong stand against rewarding illegal migration with unemployment benefits.
▶ 1:01:15It's unacceptable that American taxpayers are expected to subsidize policies that erode our national sovereignty and displace lawful workers. Your warning to governors on this front was well placed and necessary. Thank you. So, Secretary, Madam Secretary, your recently your recent warning to governors that states allowing illegal aliens to access unemployment benefits could lose federal funding.
▶ 1:01:38Can you provide an update on how you're enforcing that policy and what mechanisms are in place to stop the misuse of these benefits at the state level? No, thank you so much. this is such an important issue for um you know the trust unemployment insurance trust fund to be whole for the people who need it most and I think that's the biggest concern and so um my recommendation u was for those governors to comply uh with not allowing um anybody who's
▶ 1:02:08of any illegal status to have unemployment insurance. Um, and as we receive feedback, we will continue to discover what that what those dollars are and return them to the to uh the state treasury because we've already uncovered and we have some returned already to the state treasury, but we need to follow up with that. I know Congress has approved through the house an extension on that unemployment insurance recovery. Um, and we're looking forward to working uh with Congress and the Senate to continue that because those are dollars that have been taken and not returned.
▶ 1:02:38And then we'll we'll continue to follow up and then as it extends to illegal immigration, we will continue to work with every governor to be a good federal partner to have them understand that that is not what the unemployment insurance trust is for. It is for the American people who need it most. Thank you. Thank you for that commitment. Now, our chairman asked about the adverse effective wage rate and and I want to follow up on that and it's making it increasingly difficult for farmers in my district. a very agricultural district to hire legal guest labor under the H2A program.
▶ 1:03:08So, I know you mentioned that that there's litigation going on, but um uh what is your department doing to address the unsustainable wage inflation under the AEWR and will you support a freeze at the January 2023 levels or lower to protect American agriculture and food security?
▶ 1:03:28Well, thank you for the question and because it is in litigation, I really can't comment any further, but I will continue to work with your office and any other office who this is very important and I will also work with Secretary Rollins um on this issue as it's important as it reverts back to all of the H programs though as well. One of the things that the Department of Labor is doing is is talking about accessibility and understanding the program in itself and oftentimes the mitigation process or the navigation of the system. So streamlining those processes are are working as well.
▶ 1:03:56So, as a culmination of all of those together, I think we're going to have better outcomes for all the H programs and then as well as it um resorts to um the AER um issues. But until it's out of litigation, I won't be able to comment specifically. All right. Well, I look forward to working with you on that. And one last final question. Uh JobCore has been plagued with violence, waste, and poor outcomes for years. And uh Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask unanimous consent for this article to be entered into the record. Uh it's it's by Fox News.
▶ 1:04:24It says new report exposes how government program with eyepopping budget 1.7 billion is failing vulnerable students in uh it's April 25th 2025. So I asked that it be entered into the All right. And um so I just want to thank you for your bold action on JobCore. Thank you. Uh and um is there any comment that you would like to make further about JobCore and the decision by the president?
▶ 1:04:50If anybody needs any more uh assistance with their specific job core numbers, I would like to offer that uh that that is a public um document, but if there's anything else that I can get for you, please um I really want to work with each and every one of you on this issue because that population is one that needs to be served and how we do it more efficiently and effectively and keep our students safe and our workers safe is going to be a primary goal of the Department of Labor. Thank you very much, Spokan Secretary. And I yield back. Spokan. Great. Thank you, Mr.
▶ 1:05:18chairman and uh thank you Madam Secretary for being with us. Sorry I'm almost out of breath a little bit. I was running between they're like glides halfway through so I'm trying to get here in time to make sure we kept it going. Um glad to see you in the position um because uh we do appreciate you had many proworker votes when you were in Congress and that provides me some comfort uh knowing you're there. Um, however, the president's budget does provide me some anxiety when I see a a billion dollar cut.
▶ 1:05:47Uh, and there's no real details in the skinny budget specifically. I guess the two questions I'd have I'd love to have some reassurances from you around OSHA and the wage and hour division on cuts because I think those are two of the divisions, as you well know, um, support workers the most. and I want to make sure that because we don't have the details um that you can maybe give us a little insight on what you might see happening in those two areas.
▶ 1:06:12Yeah, thank you again for the question and and certainly one to fulfill the mission of the Department of Labor is going to be it's the first and foremost that's my job today different than as a congressman representing Oregon. But you are correct. The direction of the president when he nominated me and now as a secretary of labor is to work with all sides of the aisle and work with labor and business to come together to how we're going to best protect the American worker.
▶ 1:06:37So that being said on the OSHA and andor the safety of the American worker also is first and foremost not only under their agencies but no worker should expect to go to work and not come home safe and sound. It is going to be my goal under those that no cuts um are are going to be directed that have to statutoily when we're out visiting the sites that we have our investigators on site because we want to protect the American worker. So that will be my focus. Um and I will continue down that road.
▶ 1:07:05Um as we streamline and modernize, you know, oftentimes it does get conflated and and it's hard to understand that you would make a cut then you can't do the job. I I I will I don't agree with that. always more money doesn't always mean the best outcome, but we are going to do everything we can to fulfill the mandate of the Department of Labor and not let any American worker down and we will keep them safe. And again, I just really want to stress around OSHA especially and wage an hour division.
▶ 1:07:30Those two and wage an hour again when you're talking about protecting minimum minimum wage, we're talking pro overtime pay that that all those things that that the American worker deserves will be first and focused on my department and my agency to focus on. Yeah, I I know you as the member of Congress would be doing that. I hope you as the secretary can still do that um and help influence if there are, you know, in case another billionaire comes into the administration to start playing with things. Uh you know, your expertise would be much appreciated in that area.
▶ 1:08:00Um one of the other questions was, you know, because of the the cuts, the job court program, I guess it's come up from a couple folks. Um I come from the perspective, I think where maybe Mr. Fleshman was coming as well, like it's a important program, right? because it does have that pipeline. Um I'm hoping that uh with the Make America Skilled again initiative, um how will that that program make up for the job training resources that we provide to our youth and seniors uh in the soon to be eliminated do programs and uh what can we expect?
▶ 1:08:31Um can you assure us that these organizations will have access to the same skilled candidate pool if JobCore is dismantled? Yeah, thank you for bringing that up. I was just visiting with the carpenters and you know there were job core students in in their trade skills program their apprenticeship program. So my goal on the apprenticeship of a 1 million apprentices along with the president is to first and foremost focus that pipeline because that's the market driven economy that we've been seeing and asking for.
▶ 1:08:58Um and if JobCore is not working if it's not serving that population that we're promising to serve then I want to make sure we serve that population through a different avenue. what that looks like. I'm not exactly sure at this moment because there's been no decisions made, but there are um 20,000 students that we're serving. I need to know that they are in a place that they can have the skills that they need along with the rest of America.
▶ 1:09:23Um and so making America skilled again that lock grant we want to focus on all populations to make sure men and women are being served and that is going to include that same population. Hopefully we keep the same focus on registered apprentichips too as being the you know platinum standard sort of out there. I spent 35 years as a signed contractor with a UPAT um union member. I myself was a member as well during all that time period and you know those programs really are in many ways heads and tales above other type programs out there. I know you know that from your experience.
▶ 1:09:54So just if we can keep that focus as well. Uh last thing I think because I only have 22 seconds, I don't want to ask the question, but I just raised the concern that when the president signed an executive order taking away bargaining rights from 75% of the federal workforce, you know, it reminded me of what Scott Walker did in my state in Wisconsin and that late that caused all sorts of problems that we're still dealing with well over a decade later. Um I believe those workers have collective bargaining rights.
▶ 1:10:17I I believe that you believe that, but I hope that we can do um more in this area because I I'm concerned that uh already watching the cuts from uh Elon Musk, the Doge Commission, this is just one more attack on workers at some point. We do need people to work for the federal government. So, thank you. Thank you for being here today. Thank you. Appreciate it. Sure. Mr. Moore from West Virginia. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And uh thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here.
▶ 1:10:45um the union labor in uh my district is very thrilled to have you. All the workers in West Virginia are thrilled to have you in this position. So, thank you. Uh just by background, I would mention since we're talking about trade school, uh myself, I went to trade school. I actually used to be a welder. That's how I started off my career. Come from a multi-generational uh family of uh labor union membership.
▶ 1:11:12and uh it it provided my family a very good life and we owe a lot to that. Um to that end, I I wanted to highlight something for you and that is this program when I was state treasurer of West Virginia that I started that I'd like to work on with your office and I'm going to introduce legislation on was called the jumpstart savings program.
▶ 1:11:33So, one of the things I noticed when I was working in labor myself is that when you'd graduate from one of these um apprenticeship programs or trade school, the sometimes the barrier of entry into the workforce was not so much paying for the school.
▶ 1:11:50You know, obviously union apprenticeship is structurally different than that, but when you were coming out, it was difficult to get going where you had to buy the tools or equipment necessary, licenses, certifications or new business startup costs to really get going. So, we started this program called Jumpstart, which was endorsed in the West Virginia uh legislature and passed in legislature, but endorsed by um our trade unions as well as the Chamber of Commerce. Not too often those two come together on something.
▶ 1:12:20And um what the program does, it allows individuals to start a savings account that looks like a 529 but functions different. And it's for after graduation and it allows individuals to save money for tools, equipment, licenses, certifications, and new business startup costs. And the accounts stay open in perpetuity.
▶ 1:12:37Now, one of the structural issues that we had because it was a state level program, we had tax incentives on it where you could ride off up to $25,000 a year money that went into the account or as you pulled money out up to 25,000. So, it was a tax advantaged account 529 uh the college savings plan obviously you don't you're not paying the capital gains tax and that's a federal issue, right? We were able to wave it at the state level but not at the federal level.
▶ 1:13:05This is a program that I think would be really beneficial to the workers of this country when they're coming out of a trade school, coming out of a union apprenticeship program, looking to start a new business because we're always thinking about trade school and apprenticeship programs and those are great and we need more of them. We absolutely need more of them. Just in in my district alone where we have u uh Northern Community College, the welders there, it's hard to keep them long enough to graduate because they're getting jobs so fast.
▶ 1:13:34So that's the struggle is that so many of them are so employable they're going out and working immediately. But is this something that you think your office would be willing to work with uh my office and trying to get a piece of legislation together and pass here in Congress? Oh absolutely. There's nothing more than um an agency or I mean we used to work with agencies as a member of Congress to assist in any of the technical assistance that you need to get that done.
▶ 1:14:00And as you work through Congress, I would look forward to working with you on this issue and and you know get it across the line if that's something Congress wants to focus on. Absolutely. Well, I hope they will and I'd look to the other side of the aisle. Maybe perhaps some of them might be interested in supporting this. It passed bipartisanly in the West Virginia State Legislature and it's I'll give you one example like auto mechanics is a great one. they have to buy all of their own tools when they come out of school and it's tens of thousands of dollars.
▶ 1:14:27And if they don't have the ability to save to be able to buy those tools, it's a real barrier uh to entry into the workforce. And that's just one great example. Uh I'll end with this is that in terms of protecting the workers out there, I I would be remissed if I didn't mention uh the tragedy that happened in Northern West Virginia under the last administration.
▶ 1:14:53We were not able to get tariff relief on tin plate steel in this country. Biden, President Biden refused to put tariffs on tin plate steel. We had to idle a steel plant in Weaton, West Virginia that cost us over 3,000 United Steel Worker jobs and nobody did anything about it. The Biden administration was supposed to be the most pro- union administration in history. Left them in the dark.
▶ 1:15:24I mean, it it it's a tragedy. They got sold out for whatever reason by Beijing Biden and they all lost their jobs. And that plant is idled. We have used to have two blast furnaces in the United States that made template steel. We're now down to one left. So, thank you for your work that you're doing with USR. And if you want to support workers, I would support tariffs. If on the other side of the aisle, you want to support workers, support tariffs on steel and aluminum because that's a way that we're going to protect those jobs. I yield back. Thank you.
▶ 1:15:55Thank you, Miss Frankle. Thank you, sir. Uh, good morning. Thank you. Welcome. Congratulations on your new appointment. I just want to start off by saying it's astonishing that President Trump is while blatantly disregarding the priorities set forth by Congress in our appropriations bill is still sending cabinet secretaries to request funding.
▶ 1:16:19But with that said, uh all across the country, working people have long relied on the US Department of Labor to safeguard their paychecks, their safety, and their dignity. and they expect the government to stand with them, not sell them out.
▶ 1:16:35But under Donald Trump with the Elon Musk wielding his chainsaw through the lives of dedicated public servants and hardworking Americans through his Doge deficiency group, we're witnessing the deliberate dismantling of one of the most critical lifelines for the American workers and that's the Department of Labor.
▶ 1:16:55And especially egregious at this very moment, the Trump administration through your department is orchestring targeted attacks on the fundamental right to fair treatment in the workplace with the the ridiculous excuse that diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives are woke, whatever that even means. No clue. And the damage is profound. And no, it is uh uh more evident uh in the gutting of the office of the federal contract compliance programs.
▶ 1:17:24That's a lot of words. OFCCP. The federal government pays private contractors over 600 million. And 20% of our workforce is employed by these companies. That's more than 33 million workers.
▶ 1:17:41And for 60 years, the OFCCP has ensured that these companies don't violate uh federal law protecting discrimination based on race, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, as well as certain veterans and people with disabilities.
▶ 1:17:57So that means a company can't say, "I'm not going to hire you because you're black or you're gay or you're Jew or you're Asian." uh and public companies were uh required when they received this p public money the private companies uh to auditing for compliance with anti-discrimination law and as a result the uh OCCCP collected owed wages for workers who had been discriminated against or faced illegal pay disparities and directed non-compliant companies to implement correct
▶ 1:18:27plans. They they collected over $260 million dollars just in the last 10 years. Uh but then more important, they sent a message, obey the law. With one stroke of the pen, Donald Trump ordered OFCCP to cease its essential uh functions. And it also now is threatening the nonprofits, the businesses with investigations if they are investing in fairness and inclusion. Sends a message to companies.
▶ 1:18:57you receiving your federal money, go ahead, discriminate. We have your back. So, I have a question. Uh, uh, in the past several years, under Biden, Lincoln was compelled to pay $1.8 million to over 600 women for discriminatory pay practices. Google paid $3.8 8 million to more than 5,500 women and Asian applicants due to hiring and pay discrimination.
▶ 1:19:27Cisco systems agreed to 4.75 million settlement after the audit reveal revealed that women, black, and Latino employees were paid less than their white male counterparts in similar roles. Intel Corporation settled for $5 million following allegations of systematic pay discrimination against female African-American Hispanic employees. and Bank of America was ordered to pay 2.2 million to over 1,000 black applicants for discriminatory hiring practices.
▶ 1:19:56And I could give you many more examples. These were systematic violations undercovered that were uncovered through OFCCP, their audits, and their proactive enforcement. My question to you today, isn't it not true that your department could not do that today? That is not true. We are ensuring that OFCCP fulfills its statutory requirements and no discrimination will be tolerated under this nation's laws.
▶ 1:20:26That I will fully enforce. I'm not familiar with all those individual cases that you mentioned. I know that that you're trying to lay out uh a plan, but I'm telling you under the Department of Labor, we will fulfill our statutory requirements under the FCC. But what I suggest is that and with all due respect because you didn't sign this executive order, but I suggest you read that executive order because that executive order would not allow the Department of Labor to take any of these actions against any of these uh companies.
▶ 1:20:56And just to sum it up, uh, under Donald Trump, the do the Department of Law, uh, Department of of Labor, I should say, the Department of Lawfulness, unlawfulness, no longer protects, uh, workers from civil rights violations. It's now, in my opinion, in the business of aiding, abetting discrimination by businesses that receive federal dollars, and that's over $600 million of taxpayer monies. And with that, I yield back. Thank you, Congressman.
▶ 1:21:27The chair now rec repres recognizes Representative Vice. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you to Secretary Chavez Dreamer for being with us this morning. Uh, and thank you for speaking with me recently about my initiative of um filing legislation on paid family leave that I introduced.
▶ 1:21:46Um, I am excited to be part of the bipartisan paid family leave working group where we spent a year and a half talking to stakeholders and crafting legislation to address the lack of paid family leave options in what I believe is a a responsible way. Um, the more paid leave for more Americans act, HR 3089 will provide a modest incentive for states to establish their own uh family leave programs using a public private partnership model. Um, and to be clear, this bill is not a mandate.
▶ 1:22:15It is an incentive that recognizes that states um are already leading the way in many uh spaces and we want to support that and there is a tie-in certainly with the department of labor um potentially having a an oversight of this particular program. So thank you for giving me some time to talk to you about that.
▶ 1:22:32Um, Secretary, Oklahoma, like 26 other states, is a right to work state, and President Biden issued an executive order 14063 in 2022 requiring the use of project labor agreements on all federal construction projects over 35 million. This actually limits competition for the projects and results in many projects bringing in crews from out of state.
▶ 1:22:57Um, earlier this year, the Federal Court of Federal Claims ruled that the collective bargaining agreement requirement violated the Competition and Contracting Act by excluding responsible offers that are capable of performing the contract. I am working on legislation to ensure that no further PLA agreements are placed on federal contracts in the future. With only 11% of the workforce unionized, will you continue to support a free market and ensure fair competition across the workplace? Yeah, thank you.
▶ 1:23:26Um, I wanted to go back uh just quickly on the legislation and the Department of Labor again as was mentioned will provide any technical assistance that we can offer as you move legislation uh through Congress. Uh anything that we can do to help out on that um because you're right as an oversight if it was to come to fruition would be through the Department of Labor. So, thank you because we understand um you know um that is a growing concern amongst a lot of our working a lot of our working families.
▶ 1:23:54US is one of seven developed nations in the world that does not have a structured paid family leave program and so uh my colleagues and I uh bipartisan and by camel actually are looking to try to solve that and we look forward to working with your department. Great. And thank you. And and then again on right to work.
▶ 1:24:09Um as was mentioned in my hearing and mentioned here today, you know, it's a fundamental uh uh tenant of labor law that uh states have a right to choose if they want to be a right to work state or if they uh want to unionize and and again from the secretary's office um you know that's left up you know to to those uh states. Now on this that the Pacific uh specific PLA that you're talking about was not really a Department of Labor law.
▶ 1:24:34Um but we want to work with every state in order to understand that we want to grow the workforce. That has been really at the fundamental um core of President Trump's agenda is to grow this economy and not get out get out of our own way, so to speak. And so from the secretary's office, we want to make sure that we're supporting growing that workforce in any way um that we can.
▶ 1:24:55Well, speaking of the workforce, in April, the jobs report beat expectations by 40,000 jobs, showing that President Trump has strengthened the private sector and is growing Main Street America. Can you describe your work on removing some of the burdensome regulations that have allowed wages to grow and how the committee can partner with you to keep the momentum going? Yeah, thank you. And and again, I would like to go back even one month prior to that and you know, we did we did blow it out of the water and I think that that's what's important to answering the call of the market and what's happening.
▶ 1:25:24228,000 jobs in one and then 177,000 jobs and and those are above expectations and I would imagine we will continue down that road um and growing this workforce because of uh the flexibility and modernization of labor law. And I think that that's been key for not only my agency but but uh with our business and our labor wherever they are in the continuum that we will continue to reduce those barriers so we can grow the American workforce first and stay focused on the American worker.
▶ 1:25:53And every conversation that I had with each and every one of you will always come from the pinnacle of the American worker first. Very much appreciate that. That's an important aspect of of uh the tenative small business but also of your organization. So we appreciate your time uh and dedication to the country. Thank you for your service. And with that, Madam Chair, I yield. Thank you. The chair recognizes uh Representative Watson Coleman. Thank you, Madam Chair, and welcome to you, Madam Secretary.
▶ 1:26:21Um, a question regarding a study that you all referred to as I think as related to the decisions that you made with JobCore. Whose study was that? Yeah. So, that um so that was a job core transparency report. Um really it's the most comprehensive report that has been done um out of the Department of Labor in order to discover what has actually been happening. So that's your your study came out of the Department of Labor. Yep.
▶ 1:26:50I'm very concerned about JobCore because I know JobCore deals with with individuals from 16 to 24. It provides them not only opportunity to get a a an education in a college but also hooks them up with unions for apprenticeships for um things that are very important and and responsive to the market but also provides them uh residential removal from very dangerous
▶ 1:27:20areas. It gives them a new lease on life. Yes, they are um a mixture of people predominantly minority all lowincome and I'm wondering what is it that we're proposing to do that is better than that because I don't s I don't agree that uh JobCore has done its job as best it can. What I do think is that we don't necessarily hold people up to the standards that we expect.
▶ 1:27:48And so I would like to know as quickly as possible because I have one other area, okay, to question. What is your proposal to deal with that population specifically to give them safety and security in where they're living, uh, opportunities to go to college, opportunities to engage in apprenticeships? Sure. So working with um our respective state partners as well to understand it's very different in every state and very different in every uh congressional district as well.
▶ 1:28:16And and so I did pull up these numbers because I knew this would be so important to many of you here. And I know um Congresswoman that you I don't believe you have a job court in your actual district, but next to it, I believe. Yeah, very close. Um but the cost per enrolly there is $56,000 and the cost per graduate for yours is $268,000 per graduate. And only onethird of those students are graduating across the board, not yours, but across the board.
▶ 1:28:44and students go on to make about $16,000 a year. So just the discrepancy alone concerns me, but that doesn't mean the population we should forget about. So that's why that's really important to uh follow through. That's right. Number one, um how they're employed is another function of how this country deals with minorities in particular. Yes. And so through program, whatever I can do to work with you, I know we I'm going to be working with you and I'm sorry I missed your call. No, that's okay.
▶ 1:29:14Um, it befuddles me why we don't understand the significance of affirmative action and contract compliance. They both came into existence because there was verified studies of the underutilization and the un lack of opportunity for women and minorities and that they were treated discriminatorily in both the contract world as a an MBE or WBE or even just an employee as well as in
▶ 1:29:44the work world. And it seems to me that the president is hellbent on eliminating that opportunity to to create equity among people in this country who have been treated discriminatorily. Well, absolutely not. We won't discriminate against any of our American We are. And um and I appreciate I appreciate your rhetoric, but I'm watching what he's saying and what he's doing.
▶ 1:30:13Well, and so I think that it's really important that we collectively recognize that we have an obligation to everybody. That's right. We'll all I have one other question regarding um these these job courts. They are private partner private public partnerships.
▶ 1:30:33So in each state or wherever they exist, is it a different um entity that's in relationship with uh the government or is it one big the operators are different? Pardon? Operators can be different. Are they primarily is there any one that's really uh owning the majority of them? Across the board there has been across the board.
▶ 1:31:00Um and and it and in this report I think you'll get that information of exactly what's happening but I would like my team to be able to update you in more detail so that you do fully understand it. I really appreciate it and and you know the last um I I would like to see the study.
▶ 1:31:13I would like to have conversations with you and I would also like to understand what is the justification for eliminating the program that provided jobs of whatever nature to older people who uh were a low income and needed that additional income. I just feel like we're punishing older people who need to work.
▶ 1:31:37Well, my goal is certainly not that, but because those are subject again to litigation on the grant funding, I won't be able to specifically talk about that right at this moment. But I would like you to talk to me about how you're going to protect them even irrespective irrespective of any kind of lawsuit against your eliminating this particular program. What is your vision to protect those individuals of that ilk, that age group who need to work? Sure.
▶ 1:32:03how you plan to ensure we will fulfill the mission of the department of labor and as the secretary of labor I will focus on all the American workers wherever they are in their continuum of the workforce and that is the job of the department of labor and we'll continue on that road that I can guarantee thank you ma'am I yield back the chair recognizes representative molar thank you madam chair and secretary dreamer nice to see you welcome back and uh appreciate you being here with us today glad to be here and I've appreciated ated our
▶ 1:32:33conversations over the years and you uh represented a state that has a lot of agricultural um activity and understand I know based on your time in Congress you uh were involved in the workforce issues and agriculture and and uh I want to follow up on some of the discussion you've already had on the H2A uh AER uh situation and Michigan. Have you been to Michigan before?
▶ 1:33:02Oh sir, I used to live in Michigan. Well, we need you to come back. I used to live in Ann Arbor and my daughter lives in Sagen now. So, I was just there visiting my grandson. So, yeah. Well, we want you to come back and uh love to have you meet with some of our uh farmers. Some are fifth, sixth generation fruit growers, vegetable growers who are really uh under tremendous financial stress right now.
▶ 1:33:26And it's because of a federal mandate that increases the cost of labor for them, the H2A. And so in Michigan, you have these farmers where they're paying uh transportation for their workers. They're paying housing and then they're also forced to pay over $18 an hour and uh they just can't make it anymore. And so there's an urgency. It's a huge importance.
▶ 1:33:54I know, you know, based on your willingness to to work on this and I appreciate that and I know the chairman talked with you about it. What I would propose is working with Secretary Rollins. We brought this up the other day in in the agricultural uh subcommittee and she pledged to work on this as well.
▶ 1:34:17And I think the two of you and your teams working together, I know we've already done some uh calls on this could really help resolve this. And I know there's a process that needs to take place, but there's also an urgency. So I've introduced legislation similar to what uh Representative Clyde mentioned, pausing the increase for two years just to give some relief as we work on a longerterm solution.
▶ 1:34:46and and I know you know some of the litigation issues and you don't necessarily want to comment one way or another, but I would welcome your technical input on that legislation and would welcome being part of any work group that could be established to help resolve this both on a short-term basis as well as a long-term basis. Absolutely.
▶ 1:35:08And so any technical assistance that we can give you through uh the Department of Labor ETA and and um specifically glad to do it as you follow through with any legislation that Congress is is working toward. As in regards to Secretary Rollins, we we uh visit often in regards to um how the workforce and agriculture really uh collide all the time and and then working with Secretary Gnome as well on on just the H programs.
▶ 1:35:34One of the things that I heard as a member of Congress and in working with a lot of you was the dedication on just the systems in play themselves and sometimes navigating that for our farmers and ranchers uh has been quite difficult. And so we're working on that through the Department of Labor and I've directed my team to make sure that there is a dedicated focus to either members of Congress and or uh you know respective states who need to say I I just need some help navigating this because time is money. We understand that.
▶ 1:36:00We understand the workforce matters and so we're working hard uh in that process and I'll continue uh to do so at really at the direction of the president that we have seen that all secretaries to work together to understand what's happening and then the workforce you know that pipeline is much needed um oftentimes and is so different in every state. Thank you. And I also just wanted to uh follow up being familiar with Michigan as you are. Meno Island is a very special place.
▶ 1:36:28And you know, one of the things a lot of people don't realize is the H2B uh visa is very much in use there because of the process where there's a cap on that and sometimes there's a lottery where people don't know if they're going to get, you know, the H2B workers that they need. uh they're in a situation where they don't know if they can open their business.
▶ 1:36:51And so it actually costs American jobs because businesses that employ H2B workers as well as local uh area workers uh don't have that certainty and it would be an issue of working with uh Secretary Gnome and yourself and we would welcome your help uh lifting that cap or at least providing the certainty so that more people can get the workers they need on Men Island. No, thank you for for bringing that up.
▶ 1:37:20It's important and I'll continue to work with the other secretaries as it takes all different agencies to determine this and streamlining that and working together is going to be key and and uh we'll continue down that road so that it's more efficient for the people who are using the programs themselves. Can I ask one last quick question? Um I've been meeting, you know, in Michigan we have 83 counties. A lot of the counties have county fairs. They have, you know, the carnival rides and the workforce they need for that.
▶ 1:37:47That's another area where I would ask you to consider what options might be available because that's so important to the rural communities. We want to grow all the workforce uh that's needed here um to supplement and supply our American workers and our American businesses. So, I will and if you can at that uh fair have some Meno Island fudge ice cream, I'd appreciate it. Thank you very much. Of course. Hey, you'll bet. The chair recognizes uh Representative Dean.
▶ 1:38:15Uh thank you Madam Chair, thanking ranking member uh Secretary Chavez Dreamer. Thank you uh for being here today for your testimony and for our conversation within the last week. I appreciate that. Uh and uh Madame Chair and Madame Ranking member, I know I'm new to this committee, but I have to tell you there's something a little jarring about what's going on. I think we are here in appropriations hearings. Am I correct?
▶ 1:38:42And nowhere in your testimony uh are you revealing what the president is actually seeking, which is a billion reduction to the Department of Labor. These are appropriations hearings. We should be hearing about the dollars. Uh your words are at complete odds. Your value of labor and of workers are at complete odds with the deep cuts that are proposed in the president's budget.
▶ 1:39:11And I'm puzzled that you wouldn't have written about it in your wr written testimony or testified to it today. Uh you want to protect workers. You want to grow jobs. You just said that Meno Island and everywhere else. You want to grow jobs. How do we do that with a $4.7 billion uh cut to the Department of Labor 36% from 25 enacted levels. So I'm concerned about these cuts. um concerns what impact they'll have on workers across the nation.
▶ 1:39:41Labor is the backbone of this country. It is the backbone of this economy, an economy that we want to go positively as opposed to what is going on right now. These budget cuts will affect critical programs that support American workers such as job training, unemployment benefits, workplace safety, and other vital labor protections.
▶ 1:40:04workers are facing shifting job markets and they have a lot on the line and we have an obligation to fully understand how these proposed reductions that your president, our president uh your boss is putting forward.
▶ 1:40:20You know, I was mindful of uh our new pope uh who will be installed this weekend, Pope Leo I 14th, who selected his papal name after Pope Leo I 13th, who prized and was really sort of the godfather of social justice, Chris, Christian, Catholic social teaching, uh and the rights of working people. It's in that spirit that I hope we can recognize the importance of all workers.
▶ 1:40:48Uh and yet if you take a look at the framing of this administration and labor and workers and read the March 27th executive order by this president stripping federal workers of their collective bargaining rights. As I said, this is in complete juxtiposition to the language that you are using. Uh and you're not talking about the steep cuts. So let's talk about some of them. We know the benefits of workforce development programs.
▶ 1:41:16I've seen it directly in the community college in my district with their apprenticeship programs, working directly with the county to provide one to two-year Montgomery County Works apprentichip programs called MAP for students to gain in- demand skills at no cost. The program partners students with businesses in my area, providing an opportunity for a successful pipeline for employment. These programs are at risk.
▶ 1:41:44I'll tell you already they're cutting the Montgomery County Commerce Department in my district has already received notice of a 15% cut in annual workforce investment opportunity act funding totaling uh almost $600,000. This is in conflict again with your words. You prize workforce development and we are already forced as a result of the actions of this administration to cut.
▶ 1:42:12You talk about cutting waste, fraud, and abuse uh and to restore freedom. The president's proposed budget cut would take 1.6 billion dollars from Department of Labor grants and remove and move the remainder to make America skilled again. I guess that's MASA. We'll add that to MAGA. We'll add that to MA and AHA. I cannot stand these slogans. I want substance.
▶ 1:42:39Let's talk about the substance of cutting 1.6 billion and shifting, and I say shafting, when you send it over to the states in a block grant program. Your argument is, the president's argument is the states will have greater control. We know that not to be true. You're cutting what the states will get and they've cut, as I just showed you, at the county level, what we can do.
▶ 1:43:06You propose, the budget proposes eliminating WEOA, adult job training, which would deny job training and employment services to more than 300,000 adults who face barriers to funding uh finding good paying jobs, which would rob 135,000 young people of employment opportunities.
▶ 1:43:28Do you understand the conflict that we hear from your words and the deep cuts that this administration they're already starting and they're proposing for the 2026 budget which you have not raised Congresswoman, I I know we're out of time, but I just do want to answer and thank you for the phone call. Thank you for recognizing my values for the American worker. I do appreciate it. And so my words are true.
▶ 1:43:53This is a re-evaluation of the taxpayer dollars in understanding how we can best dedicate it to the workforce. So while you want to call it cuts, that's up to you. I want to call it a reevaluation. And we want to focus those tax dollars. That's the American first agenda that we are putting forward. And I can guarantee you this. I will work my day tail off day in and day out to protect the American worker to provide the drop- down menu for the words that I've used in this testimony today.
▶ 1:44:20and I will work with you and everybody in this office to do exactly that while we re-evaluate taxpayer dollars that can save the taxpayer dollars and not the waste, fraud, and abuse. That's the goal of the American First Agenda. That's the goal of this administration and I will enact this administration and do both. We can do both. But in your goal here today, you did not describe a single cut. I think that misses what you were supposed to be doing here today. Thank you. I yel back. Thank you. The chair recognizes myself for five minutes.
▶ 1:44:50U Madame Secretary, it is a delight to have you with us today. I am so grateful that President Trump uh entrusted you uh to run uh the Department of Labor because somebody with your background and your expertise as a small business owner. Everything that you bring to the table is going to be such an asset not only for the department but for our country. And so I could not be more thrilled to have you sitting before us today.
▶ 1:45:15And I just wanted to share wherever I go in my district, uh, I hear from young moms and dads about how hard it is to get back into the workforce, uh, after a lifealtering event such as having a newborn, which you're very familiar with as a new grandmother. Uh, congratulations. But, um, I just I I'm I've been so honored to be a part of that working group, uh, along with my colleague, uh, Representative Bice.
▶ 1:45:41Uh and we put forward the more paid leave for more Americans act uh which is truly a public private partnership uh with to encourage our states to get more moms and dads back into the workforce because we know I think we can all agree that workforce flexibility uh leads to employee retention which I know is so important to you and your work and all that you're doing. And I'd like to give one more plug to my home state of Louisiana. Uh we through the Department of Veterans Affairs launched what we call the boot.
▶ 1:46:10It's an initiative to improve the recruiting, employment, and retention of our transitioning service members uh through partnerships with local businesses and organizations. And together, efforts like expanding paid family leave and supporting veteran workforce initiatives uh demonstrates how innovative, flexible approaches to employment can strengthen both our labor force and our economy.
▶ 1:46:32So, uh, I'd like to start by asking you, uh, what the Department Labor's, uh, plan to ensure those who may have taken a gap in employment, such as our mothers, our dads, and our veterans, uh, how they will have the tools to necessary necessary to re-enter and contribute back to the workforce. Well, uh, thank Chairwoman. Uh, it's an honor to be before you, and as we serve together on education and workforce committee, we know how valuable, uh, the workforce is. So, a couple of things.
▶ 1:47:02Uh, one, thank you for working on the legislation, uh, with Congresswoman advice. Certainly, uh, we want to be from the Department of Labor's perspective, this is important to grow that workforce and whatever we can do on the technical assistance, as once said, glad to do and work with your office as you, you know, move legislation forward. Um, uh, that being said, yes. Um, you know, the culmination of my experience, and thank you for recognizing that, I am the daughter of a teamster. I do understand how important that is for the American workforce. I am a business owner and have created a business over the last 20 years.
▶ 1:47:32That also uh plays into it. I'm a former mayor and understanding what happens on the ground in these respective states and now former congresswoman and now secretary of labor. Put those together and I believe that is exactly and I know that's why the president said you will be best as a secretary to bring all sides to the table and get to good bipartisan legislation for you all. And then how can I enforce those um through Louisiana?
▶ 1:47:57the the goal is to grow that workforce everything that that we can do as a new grandmother understanding um how key that is and that's at the direction of the president. How are we going to grow this workforce whether it's through a million apprenticeships the pipelines that we need respecting and understanding every state is very different than the one-sizefits-all is not always going to work and we need to listen to the market driven economy what they're asking for and the flexibility and modernization of labor law.
▶ 1:48:22Uh that being said, um I look forward to working with you and your offices uh to do just that as we move through um the America really first agenda and streamlining how labor law has been done in the past and still protect what the Department of Labor's mission is and that is to protect the American worker, the job seeker, uh as well as the retiree as we move forward. Awesome.
▶ 1:48:43So, uh, transitioning over to my background is in higher education, uh, as you know, and I am, uh, passionate about, uh, training up our next workforce, and I'm very well aware that a four-year degree is not for every student. Uh, we have some amazing fields that our students can go into, uh, through the trade schools and community colleges. I have to give a shout out to Louisiana Delta Community College back in my uh district because they are truly stepping up to meet the workforce demands by uh producing these programs that are going to do just that.
▶ 1:49:13We just announced a new MA meta de data center uh in the in my district and they are actually stepping up to make sure that that workforce is ready to go uh to fulfill those highpaying jobs. So, can you talk a little bit uh to us about what the Department of Labor is doing uh to make sure that we are bolstering uh that workforce and not just focusing on four-year institutions, but our trade schools and community colleges to make sure that those partnerships exist so that we can produce the next generation of workforce?
▶ 1:49:43Yeah, thank you for bringing that up. Community colleges for far too long have kind of uh been, you know, um left behind in knowing that they are really the conduit between what the community is asking for as well as uh what we can produce as a skilled workforce. And so upskilling, reskilling, that's the job of this of the Department of Labor is to make sure that that pipeline is always running and fulfilled.
▶ 1:50:03and you know post this last administration and and postcoid we are just now getting up and running and with the direct under the direction of this president that you know I I firmly believe he is the president of the American worker because he's focused on all workers across the board and I'm going to do everything I can to fulfill that and one of those ways is to upskill reskill and fulfill that apprenticeship 1 million apprenticeships every single year and we're well we're well on our way thank you so much for your time thank you the chair now recogna recognizes representative Harter
▶ 1:50:34Thank you, Madam Secretary. I've heard you and President Trump repeatedly state even today that you support putting the American worker first. That's great. Uh which is why I'm struggling to understand some of the actions by your department recently. Under your leadership, the Department of Labor eliminated funding for several critical worker protections. One of the most alarming decisions was defunding the wage and hour division, the team responsible for enforcing basic child labor laws. You didn't trim this office.
▶ 1:51:04You erased them completely. Let's be clear about what that means. This division enforces the laws that protect kids from working dangerous jobs. Laws that say a seven-year-old doesn't belong in a coal mine. These are no-brainer protections for kids. You cut this division knowing that child labor is actually getting worse, not better. In just the last few years, child labor violations have skyrocketed at 88% across the United States.
▶ 1:51:32In 2023, your own department found 13year-olds cleaning razor sharp saws and handling toxic chemicals in a meat packing plant. It's terrifying stuff. Uh you and Elon Musk labeled this enforcement waste, fraud, and abuse. So simple. Yes or no question. Do you stand by labeling child labor law enforcement waste, fraud, and abuse? We did not erase any of the wage and hour division. So, I'm not exactly sure what you're referring to there.
▶ 1:52:00And um as far as the you've eliminated the funding for it, not the wage and hour division. We have not. And as far if you're talking about I don't child labor is so important to me and it always has been. We will not tolerate any child labor violations and we will crack down and actually double down on any any uh practices where there is child child labor violations and we will fulfill the mission of the Department of Labor to do so.
▶ 1:52:24I think the rhetoric that I'm hearing is not at all matched by the budget or the work that we've seen from Elon Musk and Doge that have eliminated funding for enforcement of basic child labor laws. I'd recommend that you take a look at what your department has done over the last couple months because the reality is the enforcement for child labor has gone down in the name of saving waste, fraud, and abuse. It doesn't feel like waste, fraud, and abuse uh to actually make sure that our kids are being protected. What does seem like waste, fraud, and abuse is some of the other actions that we've seen happening at your department.
▶ 1:52:53For instance, a taxpayer funded birthday party that you had recently. A bash complete with wine, big screen TVs displaying your face. I imagine the cake was pretty good. Are you planning on investigating that birthday party as waste, fraud, and abuse? Uh, that is fake news. I don't know where you get your information from, but that is fake news. You didn't have a birthday party? I did not have a birthday party. There was no wine or big screen TVs at the Department of Labor. I am here as an appropriation to talk about appropriations.
▶ 1:53:22And you want to talk about fake news? That is appropriations. That is dollars from taxpayer funded accounts going to your birthday party. Uh, Congresswoman Harter. Um, that is not true statement. I did not have a party. So, I we had a swearing in party, an official swearing party for me and my deputy secretary and that wasn't funded by taxpayer dollars. It was not a birthday party. It was a swearing in party and it was welcoming the Department of Labor and that's who was there.
▶ 1:53:50Well, are you going to be investigating the folks that actually put that wine and put that cake in those screens on on TV in the midst of cutting labor protections for kids? Well, Congressman Harter, um I appreciate that maybe we didn't have the conversation to work together.
▶ 1:54:05I do look forward to working with you on the issues of the department of labor that matter and that's the workforce development that I'm here to discuss today at the direction of the president um and work with the entire um committee here um to move forward to honor uh what the mission is and we will fulfill our mission um with the proposed um right now is a proposed skinny budget. I cannot speculate on the full budget but we will we will deliver on that. Madam Secretary, the hypocrisy that I think I've seen so far from this department is breathtaking.
▶ 1:54:34Eliminating protections for vulnerable kids, then using taxpayer money to celebrate yourself. So I I hope that we're able to see some change. I'd love a chance to work together. Uh but so far the actions that I've seen are not at all matched by the rhetoric. I I understand that sometimes this is important to do. I sat on the other side of the DAS. I never had the disrespect for my colleagues. Um this way I hope to work with you and we'll build a relationship so that this doesn't go back and forth. Let's talk about the issues at hand. I think that that's important to do um rather than this attack mode.
▶ 1:55:04It doesn't make sense to me. I wouldn't do it to you and I don't expect that you to do it to me as a secretary nor as a former colleague. Well, I wouldn't have a taxpayer funded birthday party. So, thank you and I yield back. The chair rep recognizes Representative Thank you, Madam Chair, ranking member. Madam Secretary, it's good to see you again. Nice to see you too, Congressman. We were on the same hallway up in Longworth on the seventh floor and and it's good to see you back in in an even uh greater position.
▶ 1:55:31Um you know, I'm going to use a little sarcasm here. You've been on the job for 66 whole days. How do you not know everything I'm shocked and I'm saddened that you don't know everything. Appreciate it. Right now, I'm grateful. 66 days. I mean, we we interviewed the Secretary of the Navy yesterday. He'd been on the job for 50 days. I want to say other than him, you might be the most traveled secretary because the president has sent you all across the country to actually do your job.
▶ 1:56:00How many days have you been traveling in the last 66? Oh gosh. We've been on the road. We've visited eight states and uh I don't know the exact number of days, but it I was just back from a 12 day 12 day. Well, that's a lot of travel. You're not spending time in the office. Yeah. Decorating the office. You're out in the workforce doing your job. And I think that you need to accolades for that instead of criticism for it. You were raised was your dad a single father? No. No. My parents were married and are still married. I think it celebrates 60 years.
▶ 1:56:29But my dad was a teamster and worked hard day and that was in Hanford which was where I was stationed. So we have that in common. Hanford in the in the center central valley of California where there's a lot of agriculture and he worked hard to raise you. That's right. And uh and I I that our colleagues on the other side need to recognize that you're probably the most well-rounded Secretary of Labor that has been on both sides, has had a difficult upbringing, has had a life in which you had to work.
▶ 1:56:58Uh and you are perfectly suited uh for this job. And I think that everybody should want to work uh hard with you on this uh on this venture of of making life better for the American worker. Uh the American workforce is facing a growing skills gap in infrastructure critical industries across the nation's economy. The return on investment for a four-year college, as we've discussed, has decreased to the point Americans have been discouraged by the prospect of having to go to school and and have too many in loans.
▶ 1:57:25Uh for too long, we've emphasized this is the sole path to the middle class of American dream. But I think we're getting away from that now. So community colleges and trade schools provide hands-on specialized training directly relevant to the job market. So, it's great to hear from your testimony that almost 83,000 new apprenticeships have been registered. I'm currently working on legislation called the Apprenticeship Infrastructure Tax Credit Act. Say that three times fast. Incentivizing more apprenticeships across the board with an additional focus on recent military and military spouses.
▶ 1:57:55The president's goal of creating 1 million new apprenticeship opportunities is noble. So, how might a targeted apprenticeship tax credit for employers complement the department's efforts to expand registered apprenticeships? Well, certainly we want to remove all barriers and I think that that's something that that we hear across the board from and so I I look forward to hearing what you know this type of legislation that you'll work with your colleagues on because again we want to grow the workforce and oftentimes at least in my past experience certainly
▶ 1:58:25in department of uh education and labor oftentimes it was access because of funding um and we see that across the board whether it's expanded PEL grants or any of those types of things anything that we can do to grow that workforce and not make people make a decision where they want to continue or have to stay where they are, but they have options. And so I look forward to offering again that technical assistance that you may need in order to work with your colleagues if Congress so chooses to to do that build.
▶ 1:58:51I think that would be um you know something that could be definitely uh beneficial to the workforce as well. Well, I think that's great because employers employers, not the federal government, but employers make the biggest investment in apprentices through the payment of wages and paid training. And what policies outside the current grant appropriations is uh do considering supporting?
▶ 1:59:11Well, um, anything that we can do to assist, uh, the public private partnerships and how, again, as I meet with either business owners, employees, unions that come into the Department of Labor, the goal is to how can we get to Yes. I mean, for far too long, the government has uh, we don't want them to be an adversary. We want them to be an ally. How can we assist and how can we help? And at the direction of the president, it is to go out there and get to a yes in growing this workforce and protecting our American workers.
▶ 1:59:40and at the same time fulfilling again the mission of the Department of Labor which is protecting those wage earners, those job seekers and those retirees as they move through their entire continuum of being in the workforce. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Appreciate it. Appreciate it, Madam Chair. I yield back. Thank you. The chair now recognizes ranking member Deloro for closing remarks. Thank you very, very much. Um, let me just say one thing about paid leave.
▶ 2:00:08You may or may not know this because I have been here for 34 years, 32 on this committee, but in 1997 um uh I introduced the paid family and medical leave bill. I actually worked for Senator Christopher Dodd who introduced the first uh family and medical leave legislation uh which took several years to pass and uh finally passed by uh President Clinton.
▶ 2:00:36And uh we knew at the time that we couldn't get paid leave. So I've been on that mission uh since I arrived in this institution. Uh I lead and author the family act. It guarantees 12 weeks of paid leave to all workers. Um the lack of having a paid leave program cost this economy about 22.5 billion dollars a year.
▶ 2:00:56So, I hope my colleagues would support that bill uh and that you can look at it and I would hope to get your support for workers by supporting uh the uh the family act again introduced in 1997. So, I'm not talking about particular administrations. I just think we have to meet the moment and do what's right uh for American families across the board. Uh and it's particularly helpful uh for um for women as well.
▶ 2:01:23Um, let me also make make the statement to you because I do believe you have very much and you talked about uh as I talked about being a daughter of a garment worker, you're the daughter of a of of of a teamster. So, you have some idea of the uh the the history of what the labor movement has meant in the United States and what it has done, as I said in my remarks, created the middle class in this country.
▶ 2:01:50And um but if I were you and and and I I I I just mean this very very Um you head up the department that is central to what happens to working men and women in this country.
▶ 2:02:11if you can and I don't know if this is possible for you but your values with regard to this issue and quite frankly the values of others who have proposed a budget and the disconnect between your values and the budget presented are really stark and whatever way that you can find um I I don't want to invade your space or how you navigate
▶ 2:02:42the direction of what you believe and what is occurring. I think you have to come to grips with that. My some of my colleagues here today would um when they smear regulations from labor laws.
▶ 2:02:57We need to remember what working conditions were like for US workers before the enactment of our labor laws and the promulgation of the associated regulations and standard when we deal with OSHA or EMA the the these these efforts. And it was the first secretary of labor who was a woman Francis Perkins who was my role model. You know, she dealt with what happened in regulations after the triangle fire.
▶ 2:03:29was massive loss of life particularly of women and I I wrote a book in 2011 and the opening graph of that book and I'm I'm going to read it. It bears repeating that the reasons companies do not feel free to poison us, to sell us spoiled meat, lock our daughters up in nine ninth floor sweat shops with no fire escapes, employ our underage sons in coal mines, force us to work 13-hour shifts without overtime or a break, or call in
▶ 2:03:59private armies to fire rifles at those of us who dare strike for higher wages. is not because companies experienced a moment of zen and decided to evolve. No, they were forced into greater accountability and social concern by the legitimate actions of a democratic, that's a small D, a democratic government. In other words, if we depend on goodwill, we are all screwed.
▶ 2:04:28That is the opening paragraph of my book. You're you have the enormous responsibility of making sure that workers on the job are safe in addition to their wages and a whole variety of other things.
▶ 2:04:46And to look at those who would want to dismiss regulations, speak about whatever kind of a market that they want would allow us to go back to an era when workers, men and women, were abused in the workforce. And I don't believe that you want to do that.
▶ 2:05:10I also was very concerned when we were talking here today um about you're in charge but Elon Musk announced the deferred resignation program that has gutted your staff but you won't share data on the impacts of the response to our letters or to our questions at this hearing. So I I have to wonder is Elon Musk in charge? Should we ask him the questions?
▶ 2:05:37uh uh are are the questions best directed to him? Uh or or are you the Secretary of Labor in charge of the Department of Labor's staff? We did get a response. We wrote to you um two months ago, the first as you and I mentioned this to you over the phone. We mentioned we wrote two months ago to you myself, Senator Murray, Senator Baldwin, Congressman Scott, Senator Sanders expressing concerns about the staffing reductions and office closures.
▶ 2:06:06Uh we got a a letter yesterday, a one-page letter, no information about the number of employees that have been fired, placed on administrative leave, or who took early retirement options. My colleague, Mr. Hoyer, asked about this, but you have to provide to this committee, and I hope you will commit to do this. You have to commit to doing this a list of the programs the Department of Labor whose funding has been cut, frozen since January 20th, along with what was the criteria for gutting or freezing those funds. I'm all for I'm all for cutting.
▶ 2:06:37I cut JobCore programs in the past that were not working. Give us the criteria on which these programs were cut. We may agree with you, but we have a dialogue. Agree or disagree on what's happened. We have no information. were just told that there was a$ two trillion dollar goal that had to be met for saving and therefore let's cut without any thought about consequences of any of these cuts.
▶ 2:07:05You need to provide the committee with the number of employees at department by agency who received a reduction in force notification and will you provide this committee the number of probationary employees by agency whose employment at the department was terminated.
▶ 2:07:20You had to provide the committee the number of employees at the department by agency who accepted early retirement uh offers and we need to do that as quickly as possible if we are to address the appropriations for this department moving forward. Um let me also um uh mention to you the the cuts in we've talked about training programs, workforce. Yes.
▶ 2:07:49And and I I told you about registered apprenticeships. I've been fighting for that for years and I don't want unregistered apprenticeships. I think it's a boondoggle and it's BS. It's registered so we know what's happening and the people have a job at the end uh end of the line. But the 2026 budget proposal slashes job training programs by 3.6 billion. That's a 35% cut. That's opportunities for American workers.
▶ 2:08:16The president is asking to cut these funds while he administers disastrous policies that increase the cost of living for the middle class. We talked about WEOA. We appropriated 2025 and understand that 2025 the numbers are based on 2024. That's the budget.
▶ 2:08:36That's what I didn't vote for it, but everyone on the other side of the aisle voted for a continuing resolution that said, "Let's continue the 2024 budget." And in 2024 uh budget for 2025, the Congress appropriated $2.9 billion for for WEOA grants to states and for job training programs.
▶ 2:08:56It's a violation of the law and of the Constitution to steal the appropriated funds from this committee or any other committee and move the dollars wherever you want to. No. It's against the law. And let me just say, and you don't have to answer these questions now, but I'm going to submit it. Are you planning to freeze and withhold congressionally appropriated funding for WEOA Job State grants? Do you commit to following the law and fully obligating funding that Congress appropriated for WEOA Job Training State grants in fiscal year 2025?
▶ 2:09:26How many fewer participants would be served as a result of these proposed cuts? How would that impact the hiring needs of employers looking for skilled workers? Is there a role for publicly funded workforce development programs or is your goal to only have workforce training by private companies? These are questions that we need to have uh uh answered. And I I I I just say to you that um and just I'm sorry.
▶ 2:09:54OSHA closings, offices closed. Louisiana, the only office in in Louisiana for OSHA is closed. The only office in Oklahoma closed in Arkansas. Most of the office is in in Illinois. Over half in Georgia, the Florida panhandle, the Great Lakes region, EMA deeper cuts when you restrict inspector travel there.
▶ 2:10:18It's been pointed out of of of regard the mining incidences in the first four months of 2025. Um but that that that staff has been cut and offices closed. I I do believe you fundamentally you believe in and safe workplaces.
▶ 2:10:49But I think you're in an environment where there may be others who don't share those values and they're it by the presentation of their budget. And we've heard about these cuts not from you.
▶ 2:11:04you retweeted the do from from Doge what what what what the cut wanto those grants cancellations were announced by Musk's Doge account and retreated um uh of and you retreated news madam secretary the American work worker is relying on you and relying on us to make sure that we don't get
▶ 2:11:35the worker programs that people have lived and died for in this country and to move forward. It is an awesome responsibility. I wanted to be and I was interviewed for the position of Secretary of Labor in the Obama administration. And when he asked me what I wanted to do, I said I wanted to be Francis Perkins.
▶ 2:11:59I want to protect the rights of American workers, men and women, protect children, guard against forced labor, make sure our trade agreements are worker centered. I believe you have those concerns as well and care about those. Do what you need to do in standing up for American workers.
▶ 2:12:22We have to have answers before we can make a determination of what it is that we are going to provide for this incredibly important agency. Thank you for your testimony and I look forward truly to working with you. Thank you. Thank you, Congresswoman. Thank you, Madam Secretary, for being with us today. Uh this hearing is officially adjourned. Great. Thank you.