This Labor Day, I want to take a moment to mark the invaluable contributions that the hard-working men and women of Washington’s First Congressional District have made. You are the backbone of our local economy, helping build the world’s best airplanes, grow the finest food and design world-class software.
But there is still more we can do to expand access to opportunity and build an economy that works for everyone. Right now, too many Americans work full-time yet struggle to put food on the table, pay the bills and save for their children’s college. Too many Americans work more than 40 hours a week but don’t receive overtime. And too many Americans are forced to choose between caring for their family and keeping their paychecks.
Congress can and should act. We need to update our nation’s workplace policies to ensure working families are both healthy and financially stable — because that’s when our economy thrives. That’s why I support legislation to raise the federal minimum wage (H.R. 2150), ensure equal pay for equal work (H.R. 1619) and guarantee all workers have access to paid sick leave (H.R. 932). I am also supporting the Department of Labor’s efforts to extend overtime pay to more than 4 million workers.
Growing our economy requires investments in our workforce, and I will continue fighting to give workers the security they need to succeed both at work and at home.
As always, my office is here to serve you. If you have questions or comments about the topics that matter most to you, I encourage you to contact me through my website. You may also keep up-to-date on what I’m doing by following me on social media. If you need assistance dealing with a federal agency, such as the IRS or the VA, please do not hesitate to contact my Bothell office at (425) 485-0085.
