Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8) joined House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and other lawmakers to announce a legislative package aimed at empowering Americans - particularly women - both at work and at home.
“Now more than ever, hard working American families need common sense policies, not one-size-fits-all government programs, that help balance work and life,” said Fitzpatrick. “The legislative package we laid out today ensures moms and dads take home more of their paychecks with lower taxes and cheaper prices; increases flexibility in the workplace; and modernizes job training programs to work for a 21st century economy. Simply put, this plan can make life better.”
Today, women comprise nearly half of our total labor force – and more than half of working women are the primary source of income in their families. Women manage 83% of the household income, they start 2 out of every 3 new businesses, and they represent the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. economy.
"House Republicans have been working for a long time to advance these solutions - for the single mom trying to find a job; for the college student who can't afford her tuition; for those trying to increase their take-home pay so they can support their families,” said Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers. Women have transformed America - as moms, as business owners, as care-givers, as entrepreneurs. We are working for them. We are listening to them. And we are championing them."
Fitzpatrick and the House have passed number of pieces of bipartisan legislation to improve the lives of American families only to have them become “DOA in the Senate in an election year.” As of Wednesday, the House has sent 358 bills to the Senate that have been failed to be acted on.
“Americans want solutions that empower them at work and at home – not more government and more partisan bickering. This package represents work on behalf of all families to increase opportunity and access to the American Dream,” continued Fitzpatrick. “It’s my hope that these bills – several of which have already cleared the House in bipartisan fashion – will be acted upon in the Senate because Americans deserve better than the new normal.”
Overview of the legislation included in package:
- Increasing Flexible Schedules in the Workplace – passed the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2013 (sponsored by Rep. Martha Roby, R-AL);
- Increasing Job Training Programs – passed and enacted the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (sponsored by Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-NC);
- Increasing Take-Home Pay – passed the Child Tax Credit Improvement Act(sponsored by Rep. Lynn Jenkins, R-KS); passed the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act (sponsored by Rep. Diane Black, R-TN); introduced the Empowering Americans to Work Act (sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA), which would amend the IRS to provide a deduction relating to the second income earner; introduced the Families First Act (sponsored by Rep. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV), which would index the dependent care credit and income to inflation;
- Advancing Work & Opportunity – reauthorizing the Child Care Development Block Grant Reauthorization;
- Stop Discrimination in the Workplace – preventing retaliation in the workplace for compensation discussions (sponsored by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-WA);
- Ensuring Our Students’ Educational Futures – passed the Success and Opportunity Through Quality Charter Schools Act (sponsored by Rep. John Kline, R-MN);
- Expanding Home Health Services - H.R. 5110, the Save Medicare Home Health Act of 2014 (sponsored by Rep. Greg Walden, R-OR) was introduced to protect against the 14% cut to the Home Health Program.