Jobs and the Workforce
As a lifelong owner of a union printing business, a staunch defender of worker's rights, and a member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, I believe Congress has a responsibility to take proactive and commonsense measures that can provide business owners with certainty, promote economic growth, and create jobs for Wisconsinites. Additionally, I am the co-founder of the Congressional Labor Caucus, which was established to advance the needs of the labor movement, combat the issues facing working families, and connect legislators directly with unions and union leaders.
I am a strong proponent of raising the federal minimum wage and protecting workers' rights to organize through the PRO Act. Everyone deserves dignity in the workplace.
More on Jobs and the Workforce
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-WI) today strongly criticized the decision by Wisconsin's Republican state legislative leaders to call lawmakers into an extraordinary session to fast track so-called right-to-work legislation.
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan's (WI-02) today released the following statement on President Obama's State of the Union Address. Pocan's guest for the speech was Arianna Goodwin, a constituent from Madison, WI, who has worked numerous minimum wage jobs to support her two young children and is a participant in the Operation Fresh Start program.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), 1st Vice-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, today issued the following statement after the House passed H.R. 37, a package of legislation that makes nearly a dozen complex legal changes to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act:
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee today issued the following statement on the announcement of the Department of Labor Apprenticeship Training Program $100 million grants, which reflects the primary goals of the Promoting Apprenticeships for Credentials and Employment Act (PACE Act), introduced by Rep. Pocan and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA):
WASHINGTON, DC—Four leading members of Congress today called on United States Trade Representative Michael Froman to ensure "real, meaningfully enforceable labor protections" are included in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Democratic Representatives Rosa DeLauro, George Miller, Loretta Sanchez and Mark Pocan also requested a status update from Ambassador Froman so they can better understand what measures and assurances are being discussed as part of the TPP negotiations, which have been conducted largely in secret.
MADISON— Last week, Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) sent a letter, with Reps. Gwen Moore (WI-04) and Ron Kind (WI-03), urging Governor Walker to apply for a Preschool Development Expansion Grant. Unfortunately, Governor Scott Walker failed to submit an application before Wednesday's deadline depriving Wisconsin of up to $60 million for preschool programs.
MADISON – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) will speak this evening at SEIU's Raise the Wage Rally on the State Capitol steps at 5:30 p.m. Rep. Pocan will join with hard-working Wisconsinites to demand Governor Scott Walker raise the minimum wage from $7.25.
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today U.S. Reps. Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Gwen S. Moore (WI-04) wrote Governor Scott Walker to request details about his proposal to require mandatory drug testing for recipients of FoodShare and Unemployment Insurance. The signed letter is available here.
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, Representative Mark Pocan (D-WI), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, along with Education and Workforce Committee Ranking Member George Miller (D-CA), and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced the Promoting Apprenticeships for Credentials and Employment Act (PACE Act), a new bill that would support greater development of registered apprenticeship programs.
Madison, WI — U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02), a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee, today released the following statement in support of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and striking fast food workers across the country who are calling for an increase in the minimum wage: