FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Ms. HIRONO. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of the bipartisan LaTourette-Costello amendment to keep democratic voting rights for air and rail workers.

I see the current provision in the FAA Reauthorization Bill as reflecting an anti-worker agenda that abandons our most basic democratic principles. Without this amendment, the FAA bill would count workers who choose not to vote in a union election as a no vote on union representation.

Each member of the House of Representatives got here through a fair and democratic election. In November, our states counted the votes for us and compared it to the votes for other candidates. Those with the most votes in November are Members of Congress today. If we needed to win a majority or plurality of all eligible voters--including nonvoters--none of us would be here today!

I know that not all members of the House support workers' right to organize, but I would hope we all respect the democratic process. I applaud this bipartisan amendment and thank its sponsors, Mr. LaTourette and Mr. Costello. I urge all my colleagues to support the amendment.

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