Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. BUCSHON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Preventing Greater Uncertainty in Labor-Management Relations Act. This legislation provides much-needed clarity for employers, employees, and other stakeholders affected by the unconstitutional actions of the National Labor Relations Board.

The issue here is the Constitution. You're hearing from the other side of the aisle that this is about policy disagreements with the NLRB decisions or about how previous Presidents have done recess appointments similar to these. They're wrong on both accounts. They're attempting to reframe the debate and confuse the American people about what this really is about.

Previously, the Senate was not in session when previous Presidents made appointments, and decisions by their appointees were accepted as constitutional. In this case, the Senate was in a pro forma session. They were in session, and this has precedent that has been stated already here today. In 2007, Senator Reid announced that the Senate would be coming in for pro forma sessions during the Thanksgiving holiday to prevent recess appointments. I guess my friends on the other side of the aisle only want to follow the Constitution when there's a Republican in the White House. Appointments at that time in 2007 would have been unconstitutional, as these appointments are now.

The American people deserve a Board that will fairly and objectively administer the law without bias towards management or labor. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1120, the appropriate congressional response to help ensure certainty and fairness in America's workplaces.

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