After the Sept. 13, 2011 vote on H.R. 2587, the "Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act," Rep. Rick Larsen released the following statement:
Rick Larsen, U.S. Representative, Washington State's 2nd Cong. District
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2587, a bill that limits the National Labor Relations Board's (NLRB) enforcement powers. The bill would curb the labor board's legal authority by prohibiting it from ordering a company to relocate its workers.
Larsen voted against the bill and entered the following remarks into the Congressional Record:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 2587, the "Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act."
This bill is before us because of an ongoing dispute between the International Association of Machinists and the Boeing Company that stems from an issue involving my district in Washington State.
The case is proceeding through a well-established process where the facts of the case and the application of the law to those facts will be determined by an Administrative Law Judge, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and possibly the federal courts.
This case should be determined based on the facts and the law – not on politics.
For this bill to come to the floor while this case is ongoing is troublesome and threatens the independence of the NLRB.
Congress should not be attempting to influence the NLRB process for political gains.
The NLRB is an independent adjudicatory agency.
We need to protect the independence of the NLRB and allow it to do its job.
Instead of playing politics we should instead be focused on creating jobs and getting our economy back on track.
Last week, the President challenged this Congress to put aside partisanship and get to work on creating jobs.
The single biggest action Congress could take to save and create jobs is make significant investment in our transportation infrastructure that will create private sector construction jobs, invest in the repair and maintenance of highways, roads, bridges and transit, and set the foundation for future economic growth.
This is what we should be talking about today. Not attacking an independent agency that is simply doing its job.
I urge my colleagues to vote no on this bill and allow the NLRB to determine this case based on the facts and law – not on politics.
And let's get back to work doing what the American public wants us to do – creating jobs.
Thank you Mr. Speaker."
Sincerely,
Rick Larsen
United States Representative
Washington State, 2nd District