Official Time Reporting Act

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 2550. Americans pay several hundred billion dollars in taxes each year to fund the salaries and benefits of more than 2 million Federal civilian employees. These workers are paid to carry out the critical mission and functions of the Federal Government, but the more than 340 million Americans who foot the bill do not directly manage Federal executive branch employees. They elect a President to do that.

The President directs the workforce of the executive branch so he can fulfill his constitutional duty to ensure the laws of the land are faithfully executed.

When President Trump ran for office last year, he told the American public that if--if elected, he would return Federal employees to their offices, reform the bureaucracy, and restore much-needed accountability to the workforce. The American people chose to elect him to do just that.

Even before President Trump took office, Federal collective bargaining legal authorities were weaponized to sabotage what Americans had voted for. On their way out the door, lameduck Biden administration officials signed collective bargaining agreements with Federal employee union bosses specifically designed to tie the hands of incoming President Trump.

In January, at our very first hearing this Congress, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform heard testimony from President Biden's Social Security Commissioner, Martin O'Malley. He cut a deal with union bosses after the November election and just before leaving the agency to run for chair of the Democratic National Committee.

The deal locked in telework levels for tens of thousands of Social Security Administration employees for the entirety of the incoming Trump administration. To be clear, this was done specifically to Trump- proof the workforce and to force the incoming President to continue the failed management policies the public had just voted to end.

We must ask: Are we going to uphold the President's constitutional role as head of the executive branch?

Can he truly lead if he is held hostage by union deals to which he never

agreed and were intended to undermine his authority?

Should an elected President be unable to bring tax-funded Federal employees back to work for his entire 4-year term?

The American people do not think so.

That is why the House Committee on Oversight and Reform adopted legislation that would allow the President to manage the workforce without being bound by last-minute union agreements designed to undermine him. That legislation, the Preserving Presidential Management Authority Act, sponsored by Representative Cloud of Texas, is the bill we should be debating here today.

It is important to remember that public-sector unions are fundamentally different from their private-sector counterparts. In fact, none other than Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a major champion of private-sector unions, believed that public-sector unions made no sense. FDR wrote: ``The process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service.''

Why is that? In the private sector, unions represent workers and sit across the bargaining table from representatives of businessowners. However, Federal unions are not negotiating with a profit-seeking corporation. They are negotiating with the public's elected representatives.

As FDR put it in the case of the public sector, the employer is the whole people. Federal unions, in other words, seek concessions not from private owners but from the taxpayers themselves.

Since Federal salaries and benefits are determined by laws, which also establish basic civil service protections for employees, what exactly do Federal unions bargain over? They bargain over conditions of employment like telework.

Unions also seek contract provisions that limit management's ability to hold employees accountable through disciplinary procedures or performance management processes.

I urge my colleagues to buck Federal union bosses. Put Americans first and oppose the so-called Protect America's Workforce Act.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Cloud).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Biggs).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gill).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, that was a long minute for the leader of the Democratic Party to advocate for more work-from-home policies for our Federal employees.

I think the American people have spoken loud and clear. They support our Federal employees, like the Republican Party, but we expect them to show up for work, not get paid to be home and not be accessible by phone or by computer or by email.

That is what we heard from the leader of the Democratic Party.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, she mentioned healthcare, and the healthcare system that she is talking about that she says has failed is ObamaCare, what they voted for and they created. I just find it ironic.

I hope every taxpayer in America who gets up in the morning, drives to work, works hard, and pays their taxes is listening to this debate because there is a difference here.

What the President is trying to do is make government more efficient. The argument I am hearing here, and I think the people who work hard and pay taxes are hearing, there is not a single government agency that is at any time inefficient. Every single Federal employee is at 100 percent efficiency and doesn't need to be held accountable. They can work from home and do whatever they want.

We support the Federal workforce. We want to make the Federal workforce hardier. We want the taxpayers to get their money's worth out of the hard-earned taxes that they send to Washington.

What this legislation is doing and the goal is to try to hinder the President's ability to get the backs of the American taxpayer and ensure that every government agency is efficient and every Federal employee is working hard, just like the taxpayers who work hard and pay taxes and send their tax dollars here to Congress for us to appropriate.

I think that is an important part of the discussion that needs to be mentioned on the floor. I hope that a lot of people in America, working hard, frustrated with Washington are watching this debate. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the President has been fighting back against the deals that public sector unions have negotiated for themselves at the expense of the American taxpayer by invoking an existing legal authority.

H.R. 2550 directly threatens that progress by overturning the President's executive order that exercises one of the few tools available to him under the law to more effectively manage the Federal workforce.

Now, it is no secret that accountability problems in the Federal workforce are legendary. It takes a Herculean effort to fire a poorly performing Federal worker or one who is engaged in misconduct.

Collective bargaining agreements often create procedural hurdles to firing such employees, above and beyond steps required in law and regulation.

For example, unions can bring removals before private arbitrators instead of appealing to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

The Trump administration is exercising its electoral mandate to address this problem.

For instance, the President has embarked on an ambitious overhaul of the performance management system and is pursuing more streamlined disciplinary procedures.

The reality is that preexisting union agreements the President never signed onto can subvert these efforts. They provide barriers to accountability beyond basic employee protections that exist in law. Perhaps the most inappropriate aspect of Federal collective bargaining agreements come from provisions governing the use of official time, which is when Federal employees are paid by taxpayers to do union business.

Indeed, many Federal employees spend all their time doing union business. More than 3 million Federal employee work hours were spent doing union business time in 2024 alone, according to the OPM report.

The cost to American taxpayers in salary and benefits was more than $200 million. There was an additional $31 million cost for related expenses, primarily the provision of Federal meeting space. The only reason we know this is that the Trump administration collected and reported this 2024 data.

House Oversight Committee Republicans have attempted to legislate annual public reporting on the use and abuse of official time. However, Democrats have consistently opposed even this ounce of accountability.

They have another opportunity to change their ways by supporting the current version of this legislation H.R. 5749, the Official Time Reporting Act. However, if my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are not interested in supporting legislative reforms to bring accountability to the Federal workforce and public sector unions, they should at the very least not roll back existing progress made under this administration.

I, therefore, call on my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to stand with the American taxpayer by supporting the administration's efforts to bring accountability to the executive branch's workforce and oppose H.R. 2550.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I thank, of course, the distinguished gentleman from the great State of California, Representative Garcia, for his leadership, and, of course, I thank Representative Golden for his leadership in pushing this legislation forward.

I rise today in strong support of the Protect America's Workforce Act, legislation that will restore the collective bargaining rights of more than a million hardworking Federal employees, patriotic public servants who have been targeted viciously by the Trump administration from the very beginning of his time in office unnecessarily and in ways that undermine some of the core promises, Mr. Speaker, that Donald Trump made to the American people last year.

Donald Trump and Republicans promised that they would focus on lowering costs on day one. Costs have not gone down in the United States of America. Costs have gone up. Inflation is on the way up. Housing costs are out of control. Childcare costs are out of control. Electricity bills are out of control. Grocery costs are out of control. Healthcare costs are skyrocketing out of control because of the Republican refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

Instead of Donald Trump and Republicans, Mr. Speaker, keeping their core promise to the American people to make their life better, they have been focusing on a variety of other things that relate simply to jamming their extreme rightwing ideology down the throats of the American people, including by targeting organized labor, hardworking men and women, including those who are part of the Federal workforce.

What is it that Federal employees do each and every day to make sure that they are providing services to the American people? The list is too numerous to mention, but we know that hardworking Federal employees, our public servants, each and every day are working hard to make sure that hard-earned Social Security benefits are delivered to the American people, that Medicare benefits are delivered to the American people, that the food we eat is disease-free, that we can enjoy our national parks all across the country, and that aviation safety and the ability to get from your point of departure to your point of destination, flying in airplanes in order to see your loved ones, is safe.

Of course, our hardworking Federal employees are working hard to make sure that veterans receive their earned benefits. Instead of being targeted by Donald Trump and Republicans, these people should be supported for the work that they do on behalf of the American people.

We also know that when it comes to improving the quality of life of everyday Americans, there is a lot of repair work that must occur to restore the American Dream that is disappearing from folks all across this country.

The American people know that the Trump administration and Republican policies have been a disaster.

In this great country, as Democrats, we believe that when you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to live an affordable life, a comfortable life, and live the good life.

What exactly does that mean: good-paying job; good housing; good healthcare; good education for your children; and at the end of the day, a good retirement. That is the good life. That is the American Dream.

For far too many people, it is out of reach, but we know that perhaps no force has been more proactive in delivering access to that American Dream than the men and women of organized labor, decade after decade after decade.

Why would Donald Trump and Republicans focus, Mr. Speaker, on targeting hardworking public employees, targeting unions, and targeting the men and women of organized labor?

Is it because my Republican colleagues are too consumed with enacting massive tax breaks for their billionaire donors, which is what the one big, ugly bill was all about, but have zero interest in lifting up the quality of life of hardworking American taxpayers, including, but not limited to, the men and women of our Federal workforce?

It was my understanding, Mr. Speaker, that my Republican colleagues believe in freedom. Well, collective bargaining, essentially, is the freedom to negotiate the best possible work environment to allow these public employees to continue to deliver services that are effective and efficient for the American people.

Yet, instead of focusing on driving down the high cost of living in America, which is out of control--yes, there is an affordability crisis in the United States of America, notwithstanding the fact, Mr. Speaker, that Donald Trump apparently believes it is a hoax. The American people know it is not a hoax.

Instead of focusing on trying to find commonsense solutions to make life better for the American people, Donald Trump and my Republican colleagues continue to just jam their extreme ideology down the throats of the American people while working overtime to benefit their billionaire donors.

That is why I am thankful for this bipartisan effort to restore collective bargaining rights for more than 1 million public servants who are part of the Federal Government, and I urge a ``yes'' vote.

Do the right thing by the Federal workforce. Do the right thing by the men and women of organized labor and do the right thing when it comes to ensuring that everyone has a path to experiencing the American Dream.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Protecting America's Workforce Act, which will restore collective bargaining rights for more than 1 million Federal workers.

I thank Congressman Golden for all his work to bring this bipartisan bill to the floor and so many Members across our caucus who are supportive.

We know this bill is a historic win which overcame opposition from Speaker Johnson and certainly antiworker allies across the government.

In March, President Trump signed an executive order terminating collective bargaining rights for Federal police officers, firefighters, nurses, food safety inspectors, and so many more.

The nurses who care for our veterans, the flight safety inspectors at the FAA, nuclear power plant safety workers, and countless others lost their right to have representation in the workplace. This is unfair, and it is wrong. Workers deserve the right to make their voices heard with a union.

Mr. Speaker, I was the mayor of my city of Long Beach, California, before I came to Congress. I am so proud to partner with our city unions, always making sure that the city and services ran effectively. Our Federal unions are the same. They make sure that our civil service is independent and nonpartisan, serving the citizens and not whichever party is currently in power.

They make sure we attract and retain highly talented workers, and they make sure our agencies follow the law.

President Trump is targeting Federal unions to further his power grab and to continue to push an agenda which leaves working families behind and, instead, supports billionaires.

Unions make our middle class stronger. They make our government stronger, and they make our economy stronger. We should be working every day to strengthen the right to organize and not to undermine it. This bill is a historic victory.

Mr. Speaker, I commend Congressman Golden and everyone who has worked on it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fitzpatrick).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Norcross).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), the Democratic leader.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Randall).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Bresnahan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Lawler).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Bell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Walkinshaw).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford).

Mr. Speaker, I yield one minute to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Hawaii (Ms. Tokuda).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Hawaii.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, like Chairman Comer, I also agree, and I hope that the American public is watching this debate right now. Certainly, what they would see if they are watching this debate is not just Democrats advocating for passage, but Republicans advocating for passage. In fact, this is a bipartisan effort to protect Federal workers in this country.

We have heard now from multiple Republicans from the chairman's party who have actually advocated with Democrats to ensure that our President doesn't strip basic protections from our Federal workers. We are talking about our Federal nurses, our firefighters, law enforcement, medical professionals, the men and women who are working across our airports, that are taking care of our nuclear reactors in this country. They deserve the right to organize.

I do agree. I hope the American public is watching and listening to our Republican colleagues and our Democrats support our Federal workers.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Dingell).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Mannion).

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I will be brief.

Congress should be fighting hard for working people all over this country. We should be tackling the cost of living. We should be fighting to provide world-class government services, and we should be fighting for the unions which make all that possible. We should be working hard to expand the right to organize, not turning back the clock on working families. This bill is a huge win for the American people.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Golden for his work, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding.

This bill would nullify President Trump's Executive Order No. 14251, which rightly excluded 40 national security agencies from collective bargaining.

Agencies like FEMA, the Coast Guard, the CDC, and the VA cannot afford to be paralyzed by union red tape when lives are on the line.

I want to emphasize that this is going to nullify an executive order. It is going to attack his agenda, the America First agenda, that he was overwhelmingly elected to enact.

These unions are not neutral actors. The word ``billionaires'' was mentioned by my colleague from California. I am glad he mentioned the term ``billion,'' because that is what the partisan machine government union spent in the last election, just under $1 billion, $980 million of it going to Democrats, which explains in no small measure the rationale for the movement of this bill to negate President Trump's executive order.

In its final days, the Biden administration rushed to lock in long- term union contracts designed to tie President Trump's hands for a second term.

H.R. 2550 preserves those deals signed after President Trump was reelected but before Inauguration Day. That undermines the will of the voters and the authority of the Commander in Chief. It is legislative sabotage, and we shouldn't give in to that.

The Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 explicitly gives the President authority to exclude agencies from collective bargaining when national security is at stake. This would undo that.

Presidents from Carter to Reagan to Trump have exercised this authority. Courts have already sided with President Trump, affirming that in matters of national security, the President enjoys ``unique responsibility.''

Arizona knows too well the cost of bureaucratic failure. The Phoenix VA scandal shows what happens when accountability is lost. Veterans died waiting for care.

We must not allow unions to dictate policy if it is going to impact national security, if it is going to affect our borders, if it is going to affect our energy, and if it is going to affect protecting Americans during pandemics.

In a State where public safety and national defense are daily realities, my State, this bill would put union bosses ahead of the American people and in front of Arizonans.

In 2024 alone, the political arm of the Democratic Party, the four largest public-sector unions, spent $900 million-plus on progressive politics, and 86 percent of it came from their member dues. They are using taxpayer-backed salaries to fund partisan activism, not to serve the American people.

H.R. 2550 strips the President of his constitutional authority, undermines national security, and rewards partisan obstruction. President Trump is trying to fulfill his duty to protect the American people. Congress should not stand in his way.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to stand with the President, put America's security ahead of union politics, and vote ``no.''

Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding me time on this important issue.

I strongly oppose this bill because it would jeopardize our national security, and it locks in harmful last-minute agreements from the Biden administration.

Union bosses love this bill for one reason: It protects their telework perk. It also shields them from accountability and gives them effective veto power over a duly elected President with a mandate to clean up a bloated Federal bureaucracy.

Specifically, this legislation would nullify President Trump's executive order titled ``Exclusions From Federal Labor-Management Relations Programs.'' The executive order wisely designated various agencies as having a national security focus as their primary functions and exempts them from collective bargaining.

Union officials do not and should not have the right to use their collective bargaining power to undermine President Trump and jeopardize our national security.

One example of this just fairly recently is ICE not being able to modify cybersecurity policies without giving its union bosses an opportunity to negotiate, delaying needed cybersecurity updates.

In another example, union bosses threatened to block the Office of Personnel Management from implementing basic IT security controls.

There is a troubling pattern where union bosses block measures that they don't like, forgetting that they work for the American people and not the other way around.

The President's executive order also improves care for veterans. On August 6, 2025, the VA announced that it is terminating most union contracts to comply with the executive order.

Employees at the VA currently spend 750,000 hours engaging not in care for veterans but in union activities. That is every single year. The President's executive order will lead VA employees to spend more time helping veterans and less time in union activities.

It goes even further. This bill forbids the Trump administration from unwinding any collective bargaining agreement signed before March 26, 2025.

After Democrats lost the 2024 elections, the Biden administration hurried to ink multiyear deals that they knew they would never have to enforce, deliberately tying the hands of their successors and rewarding union leadership on their way out.

One example is especially egregious: the Social Security Administration deal that allows maximum telework, prohibits management from reducing it, and applies to 98.5 percent of the agency's workforce.

The Protect America's Workforce Act is nothing short of an attempt to prevent President Trump from reforming the Federal bureaucracy. It undermines national security and rewards union bosses who think that they run the government. I urge opposition.