Working Men and Women
A Champion for Rhode Island's Working Men and Women
Throughout his career, Senator Reed has been a champion for Rhode Island workers who built and continue to advance our state.
Reed has fought to ensure that all working men and women have the right to a safe workplace, fair wages, decent benefits, and the ability to organize and have their voices heard.
Reed has worked hard to ensure the federal government invests in job training and education programs that will help create jobs for Rhode Islanders and grow our nation's economy. For instance, Reed brought $15 million to Rhode Island for the creation of the Exeter Job Corps Academy. Opened in 2004, the Job Corps Academy provides disadvantaged youth with education and training. Nationally, over 90 percent of Job Corps graduates obtain jobs, enlist in the military, or pursue higher education.
As a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP), Reed helped boost the minimum wage. He has also sought to ensure that employees receive the overtime pay they deserve. Millions of employees depend on overtime pay to make ends meet and pay their bills for housing, food, and health care. These workers will face an unfair reduction in their take-home pay if they can no longer receive the overtime pay.
With Americans working longer hours than ever before, Senator Reed has sought to protect the 40-hour work week which is vital to helping parents balance work responsibilities and family needs. And to help workers who are dealing with a seriously ill family member or preparing for the birth or adoption of a new child, Senator Reed strongly supported passage of the Family Medical and Leave Act (FMLA) and has sought to expand it.
In an effort to help unemployed Rhode Islanders who are trying to find work, Reed continues to fight to extend unemployment insurance benefits so people can pay their bills while they are looking for a new job. Economists say that extending unemployment benefits is one of the most effective ways to stimulate the economy.
Reed is also fighting to ensure workers who are laid-off by companies as a result of increased imports or shifts in production out of the United States receive Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and any other qualifying benefits, services, and training to get them back into the workforce quickly.
Senator Reed believes that men and women performing the same job should earn the same salary. Currently, working women earn 25 percent less than their male counterparts, and the resulting wage disparity creates an injustice that impacts many American working families. Reed supports both the Fair Pay Restoration Act and the Paycheck Fairness Act to address these disparities.
Recent News:
Congress Passes Reed's Plan to Extend Unemployment Benefits
Reed Announces $482,000 to Help Local Small Businesses Compete for Government Contracts
Reed Concerned With Growing Unemployment
Reed Urges Bush Administration to Reverse Course and Extend Unemployment Insurance
Reed Announces Trade Adjustment Assistance for Former Saint-Gobain Employees
Reed Votes to Help End Pay Discrimination
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