KEY VOTES IN 2019
US HOUSE SCORECARD FOR THE 115TH US CONGRESS
1. FOR THE PEOPLE ACT (H.R. 1)
The UAW endorsed this pro-democracy bill aimed at expanding and protecting voting rights, reforming campaign finance laws, and strengthening government ethics.
2. PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT (H.R. 7)
The UAW has been a long-time supporter in opposing wage discrimination. This bill would bar employers from demanding salary history and prohibit retaliation against workers who discuss or share their wage compensation.
3. PROTECTING AMERICANS WITH PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS ACT (H.R. 986)
The UAW endorsed this bill to halt the Administration’s expansion of junk plans that could exclude health care coverage to millions of Americans with pre-existing conditions.
4. DREAM AND PROMISE ACT (H.R. 6)
UAW supported this House passed bill to protect Dreamers under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, and individuals with Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) from deportation and provide an opportunity to obtain permanent legal status.
5. MIDDLE CLASS HEALTH BENEFITS TAX REPEAL ACT (H.R. 748).
This bi-partisan House passed bill was signed into law under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 on December 20, 2019. The UAW supported this legislation to permanently repealed the scheduled excise tax on high cost employer sponsored health care plans.
6. RAISE THE WAGE ACT (H.R. 582)
This House passed bill, endorsed by the UAW increases the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour, phases out the tipped minimum wage and ensures that future increases would be automatic.
7. BUTCH LEWIS ACT (H.R. 397)
This House passed bill would help people in multi-employer plans that are in danger of going insolvent by establishing a federal loan program to protect the retirement income security of over one million workers, retirees and pension beneficiaries across the country.
8. FORCED ARBITRATION INJUSTICE REPEAL (FAIR) ACT (H.R. 1423)
The UAW opposes the growing use of employment contracts as a condition of employment, forcing workers to waive their right to sue their employers for labor violations, sexual harassment, and more. This bill prohibits forced arbitration in all business contracts moving forward and restores individuals right to access the legal system.
9. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION FOR HEALTH CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS ACT (H.R.1309)
This bi-partisan House-passed legislation would direct the Labor Department and OSHA to issue rules requiring employers in health care and social services to have workplace violence prevention plans that include physical assault or injury, and psychological trauma.
10. VOTING RIGHTS ADVANCEMENT ACT (H.R. 4)
This legislation reverses the misguided Shelby v. Holder decision by the Supreme Court in 2013 that gutted voter protections established in the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The UAW supported this bill because it empowers Americans to vote and ensures that everyone has equal access to participate in the voting process, a core value of our democracy.
11. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS LOWER DRUG COSTS NOW ACT (H.R. 3)
This bold legislation takes concrete steps to lower drug prices and holds wealthy drug companies accountable as well as makes critical investments in expanded Medicare coverage, research, workforce, and community health centers. UAW supported this bill as a long-standing champion of affordable health care for all.
KEY VOTES IN 2019
US SENATE
1. GORSUCH NOMINATION TO THE SUPREME COURT
The Senate confirmed Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court with a 55-45 vote. The UAW opposed Gorsuch because of his extensive anti-worker record and poor record on civil rights issues. He has consistently sided with powerful corporate interests over working people.
2. S. AMDT. 667 TO HR 1628: “SKINNY” REPEAL OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
This ill-conceived bill would have led to 16 million more uninsured Americans and increased premiums by an additional 20 percent within a year.
3. HJ RES. 83: GUTTING OSHA WORKER SAFETY PROTECTIONS
This ill-conceived law gutted OSHA recordkeeping rules that helped make workplaces safer. Big employers in hazardous industries will only need to keep their record for six months to avoid penalties, eliminating long term records of health and safety violations.
4. HR 1628: UNDERMINING AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE
This legislation would have eliminated healthcare coverage for 22 million people and made it easier for insurance companies to charge higher premiums based on health, gender, or pre-existing conditions. It also weakens the funding and stability of Medicare.
5. HJ RES. 37: CONTRACTORS NOT HELD TO FAIR WAGES
This legislation rolled back common sense rules that require government contractors to pay fair wages and provide good working conditions. As a result, U.S. tax dollars can be used to support bad employers.
6. KAPLAN CONFIRMATION TO THE NLRB
The Senate confirmed Martin Kaplan to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The UAW opposed Kaplan because he spent his career as a Congressional staffer to weaken workers protections.
7. EMANUEL CONFIRMATION TO THE NLRB
The Senate voted to confirm William Emanuel to the NLRB. The UAW opposed Emanuel because of his anti-union worker record and experience exclusively representing corporations, specifically union busting law firms. Emanuel never represented a worker or union in an employment matter.
8. H CON. RES. 71: FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS TO MEDICAID AND MEDICARE
The Senate passed the budget, which dramatically favors corporations and the wealthy over working people by cutting $1.5 trillion from Medicare and Medicaid, while cutting taxes for millionaires by hundreds of thousands annually.
9. HJ RES. 111: LIMITING CONSUMERS RIGHT TO SUE
This legislation allows banks to continue to include arbitration clauses in contracts, which would prevent consumers from being able to sue over unscrupulous bank practices.
10. HR 1: TAX CUT GIVEAWAY TO BILLIONAIRES AND MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS
This law eliminates key deductions for working people, and cuts healthcare and other low- and moderate-income programs, while cutting the corporate tax rate and encouraging outsourcing. According to the Tax Policy Center, by 2027, more than 80 percent of the total gains will go to the top 1 percent.
11. KAVANAUGH CONFIRMATION TO THE SUPREME COURT
The Senate voted to confirm Brent Kavanaugh to the Supreme court. The UAW opposed Kavanaugh because his record and judicial philosophy give every indication he will act against the interests of working people at every turn. For example, when serving on the D.C. Circuit Court, he ruled against casino workers seeking to join the United Auto Workers union at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.
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