WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Independent Women’s Voice (IWV) again advocated for the freedom and flexibility of independent works in support of the U.S. House Committee on Workforce & Education Markup of H.J. Res 116. This CRA provides for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of the Labor (DOL) relating to “Employee or Independent Contractor Classification Under the Fair Labor Standards Act.” In short, congressional action on the CRA would be one step closer to overturning the new, devastating DOL independent contractor rule.
Independent Women’s Voice is calling on Congress to protect the rights of independent contractors across the nation, and last week, IWV was on Capitol Hill urging support for the CRA, sharing voices of independent contractors from across the country. With 70 million Americans, representing 39% of the U.S. workforce currently freelancing, it is crucial to preserve the flexibility and opportunities that independent contracting provides. This is especially important for women, as 92% of female workers prioritize flexibility over stability in their careers.
Patrice Onwuka, senior policy analyst at IWV, today issued the following statement:
“We applaud the Workforce & Education Committee under the leadership of Chairwoman Virginia Foxx and Rep. Kevin Kiley for this effort to overturn the Department of Labor’s harmful independent contractor rule. This committee has taken a critical step to halt what will be a devastating loss of opportunity for the nation’s independent workforce.
“Millions of women and men choose to work independently to accommodate their unique circumstances, but this rule will put many of them out of work. The flexibility of independent contracting allows many women to raise their children or take care of aging parents. This new rule would deny many self-employed professionals, small business owners, gig workers, and those with side hustles, who cannot work as an employee, the ability to stay attached to the labor force.
“When California implemented similar restrictions on independent contractors, self-employment tumbled by 10.5% and overall employment fell by 4.4%. The DOL’s rule would spread this hardship nationwide.
“Congress can halt this attack on the entrepreneurial spirit of America by the Biden Administration. We urge the entire House and the Senate to support this Congressional Review Act.”
Independent Women’s Forum has been a leader in bringing this issue to the forefront and amplifying the voices of women and men whose livelihoods are at stake. Independent contractors from across the country have shared their personal stories with Independent Women’s Forum, and these stories about direct impact in states served as fly-in resources for both House and Senate chambers, respectively.
IW sets the record straight on the realities of the disastrous Department of Labor’s rule for gig workers across America:
- Patrice Onwuka discusses Biden’s war on working women in the New York Post.
- Karen Anderson writes in the Daily Caller about the new DOL rule going to war against freelancers.
- IWF Fellow at the Center for Economic Opportunity Jennifer Oliver O’Connell penned a letter in the New York Times calling to protect the rights of independent contractors.
- Jennifer Oliver O’Connell writes in The Hill that the new DOL rule is California’s damaging gig workers law now going nationwide.
- Whitney Munro, senior adviser for Independent Women’s Forum, writes in USA Today on how the DOL rule wages war on workers, women, and entrepreneurs.
Read more about Independent Contracting Threats and what is at stake here.
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Independent Women’s Voice fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.