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FLSA Update

Following up on our article from last issue of Braun Consulting News titled
"Overtime Is About To Change: Family Time Flexibility Act",
we wanted to update you and keep you informed about the latest developments concerning H.R. 1119.

     - House Backs Senate To Block Overtime Bill

In October of 2003, the U.S. House of Representatives backed a U.S. Senate-passed provision to block the Family Time Flexibility Act.

The amendment was introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) to the FY 2004 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Bill (S. 1356).

This provision would block the Department of Labor (DOL) from moving forward with the Family Time Flexibility Act.

Twenty-one House Republicans joined 199 Democrats and one independent in supporting the Senate provision.

The vote was 221 to 203 and reflected a switch in position for seven Republicans who had supported the revisions in a July roll call vote.

The House decision followed a similar vote (on September 10th) in the U.S. Senate (54-45) also in favor of the bill.

     - A sample of the reactions

SENATOR HARKIN:
"This is a great victory for American workers today. It sends a very clear message to the administration: 'Don't mess with overtime protection. Don't take away from American workers.'"

AFL-CIO:
"AFL-CIO President John Sweeney hailed the bipartisan vote and called on Bush 'to withdraw his assault on overtime and withdraw his threat to veto any legislation that protects overtime'."

ABC:
"ABC is very disappointed by the Senate's decision to block the Labor Department's efforts to update overtime wage rules," said Bill Spencer, ABC vice president of government affairs. "If the full $472-billion appropriations measure is agreed to in the Senate, it will next be sent to conference, where ABC plans to garner support ensuring the Harkin Amendment is NOT included in the final conference report."

AACN:
"AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses) applauds last month's vote by the U.S. House of Representatives in support of a non-binding motion instructing House-Senate conferees to block a proposed Department of Labor change to the Fair Labor Standards Act that would have revised overtime protections."

For more information about the "Family Time Flexibility Act",
see our article by clicking here.

Briefs 

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