President Obama's Weekly Address 9/3/16: Building Upon the Legacy of Labor Day

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week’s address, President Obama commemorated Labor Day by highlighting the economic progress we’ve made over the course of his administration. Over the past seven and a half years, we've rescued our economy from another depression, cut our unemployment rate in half, and unleashed the longest string total job growth on record. The President said that although the country has made significant progress, there’s still work to do in the years to come. He emphasized that despite the boisterous political season, we must not lose sight of the policies that will actually help working families get ahead. President Obama said if we are going to restore the sense that hard work is rewarded with a fair shot to get ahead, we must build on the legacy of those who came before us – that means exercising our right to speak up in the workplace, to join a union, and to vote.

President Obama's Weekly Address 5/21/16:Expanding Overtime Pay

WASHINGTON, DC — In this week's address, President Obama discussed one of the single most important steps to help grow middle-class wages – expanding the number of workers who are eligible for the overtime that they have earned. Every week, millions of Americans work more than 40 hours but do not receive the overtime pay they deserve. This week, the Department of Labor finalized a rule to extend overtime protections to 4.2 million more Americans, which will boost wages for working Americans by $12 billion over the next 10 years. This action will not only mean a better life for more American families, but will also strengthen our economy across the board. The President emphasized that he will continue to build an economy where everyone gets a fair shot to get ahead.

Pallone Praises Rule to Extend Overtime Pay for Millions of Americans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2016


WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) praised the Obama Administration’s announcement that the Department of Labor has updated overtime protections for nearly 5 million more workers. The rule makes more than 130,000 additional New Jersey workers eligible for extra pay by guaranteeing overtime pay to most salaried workers earning less than an estimated $47,476 a year.

“Today, too many Americans are working longer and harder, with less to show for their efforts partly because very few workers are eligible for overtime pay,” said Congressman Pallone. “Raising the overtime threshold to better reflect current economic realities and bring an important measure of economic fairness is a tremendous victory for working families. This decision brings us closer to an economy that works for all Americans – one that fairly pays workers for the work they do.”

When the proposal was in its final stages, Pallone wrote to President Obama urging decisive action to significantly raise the income threshold for overtime pay, which currently stands at $23,600.

Pallone Praises Proposal to Extend Overtime Pay for Millions of Americans

Good news for millions of Americas that work long hours with little to no extra compensation -MM

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) praised the Obama Administration’s announcement that the Department of Labor will propose extending overtime pay to nearly 5 million workers. The proposal would guarantee overtime pay to most salaried workers earning less than an estimated $50,440 next year.

“If an employee works overtime they deserve to be justly compensated,” said Congressman Pallone. “The Administration’s proposal to raise the overtime threshold to better reflect current economic realities will bring an important measure of economic fairness to millions of Americans. I am pleased that the Administration heeded the call for this decisive action. It will bring us closer to an economy that works for all Americans – one that fairly pays workers for the work they do.”

When the proposal was in its final stages in April, Pallone wrote to the President Obama urging decisive action to significantly raise the income threshold for overtime pay, which currently stands at $23,600.

President Obama's Weekly Address 3/15/14: Rewarding Hard Work by Strengthening Overtime Pay Protections

WASHINGTON, DC—In this week’s address, President Obama highlighted the action he took this week to reward hard work by strengthening overtime pay protections. As part of this year of action, the President has ordered the Secretary of Labor to modernize our country’s overtime rules to ensure that millions of American workers are paid a fair wage for a hard day’s work. While our economy is moving forward, the middle class and those fighting to get into it are still struggling and too many Americans are working harder than ever just to keep up, let alone get ahead. So, in consultation with workers and business, the Obama Administration will update and simplify the rules to reward hard work and responsibility.