RELEASE: RO KHANNA CALLS FOR INCREASED FUNDING FOR NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD

Washington, DC – Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17), Deputy Whip of the Progressive Caucus, sent a letter today signed by 25 members of the House of Representatives to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer calling for additional funding for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in the year-end funding package.

The request comes after Representative Donald Norcross led a bipartisan group of members of the House earlier this year in a letter to Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro and Ranking Member Tom Cole requesting that the NLRB receive a minimum of $368 million in the end-of-year appropriations package.

"Investing in America's workforce matters," wrote the lawmakers. "Congress must deliver for American workers and their families. The NLRB provides critical support for employees seeking union representation, higher wages and a better future. Adequate funding will ensure the agency is able to fully support workers' right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act."

See the full letter below:

Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer:

Thank you for your tireless work in negotiating an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2023. Given the severe budget crisis the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is facing, we write to strongly urge you to ensure that additional funding is included in the final end-of-year package.

Earlier this year, Rep. Norcross led a bipartisan group of 148 members of the House of Representatives in a letter to Appropriations Chair Rosa DeLauro and Ranking Member Tom Cole requesting that the National Relations Labor Board receive a minimum of $368 million in the end-of-year appropriations package.

This request was escalated by Rep. Norcross and Labor Caucus leaders last month citing that "the Agency has exhausted its ability to absorb cost increases…and without additional funding, will be forced to pursue furloughs." Failing to properly fund the agency would be a disservice not only to hardworking NLRB employees but to American workers everywhere.

Investing in America's workforce matters. Congress must deliver for American workers and their families. The NLRB provides critical support for employees seeking union representation, higher wages and a better future. Adequate funding will ensure the agency is able to fully support workers' right to organize under the National Labor Relations Act.

We, the undersigned stand with Rep. Norcross and our Labor Caucus colleagues, "and consider this funding a top priority and urge you, in the strongest possible terms, to increase funding for the NLRB in the end-of-year appropriations package."

Sincerely,