The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“VOTE AGAINST EXECUTIVE OVERREACH” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H1137 on Feb. 14, 2017.
The Department provides billions in unemployment insurance, which peaked around 2011 though spending had declined before the pandemic. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, claimed the Department funds "ineffective and duplicative services" and overregulates the workplace.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
VOTE AGAINST EXECUTIVE OVERREACH
(Mr. MARCHANT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute.)
Mr. MARCHANT. Mr. Speaker, at the 11th hour, the Obama administration's Labor Department issued a rule that stonewalled bipartisan changes to the unemployment insurance program. These changes were made so that tax dollars would be used in a more efficient and more effective manner.
It has been 5 years since Congress passed legislation giving the States the discretion on drug-testing policy for unemployment applicants. Using delay tactics, the previous administration prevented that law from ever being implemented as designed.
This kind of executive overreach impedes the ability of States to ensure that the unemployment insurance program accomplishes its intended purpose, and that is to promote reemployment.
In Texas, we take the job of fiscal responsibility very seriously. This week, Congress is responding to that overreach by the previous administration. We hope that Congress will take that responsibility very seriously. I urge my colleagues to vote against the executive overreach and to vote for H.J. Res. 42.
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