Van Hollen Applauds New Executive Order on Workplace Rights

Press Release

Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen issued the following statement in support of President Obama's executive order to advance workplace protections for federal contractors:

"I applaud the President for taking action to ensure that federal contractors play by the rules and respect worker's rights. This executive order ensures that taxpayer dollars will not be spent on companies that repeatedly violate the safety and dignity of their workers. The federal government must lead by example and reserve its business for those who provide safe workplaces and fair pay for their employees."

Under the new executive order, the procurement process for new contracts valued at more than $500,000 will require contractors to disclose labor law violations from the past three years related to wage theft, workplace safety, civil rights protections, and other federal statutes. Contracting officers will help companies come into compliance while denying contracts to those with the most egregious violations who refuse to improve.

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