Scalia Floor Speech

Download production quality video of Senator Brown’s remarks HERE.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown took to the Senate Floor yesterday to oppose the final confirmation vote of Eugene Scalia to serve as Labor Secretary. Sen. Brown warned that Scalia will continue to advocate for corporations and against workers as head of the Department of Labor, given his disturbing, anti-worker history. Brown voted against Scalia’s nomination, which passed the Senate along a party-long vote. 

“What Mr. Scalia doesn’t understand and what President Trump doesn’t understand is that you can’t say you’re for workers individually if you don’t stand up for workers collectively,” said Brown.  “We need a Secretary of Labor who will actually fight for labor – not a corporate lawyer.”

Brown’s remarks on the Senate Floor, as prepared for delivery, are below:

Eugene Scalia’s nomination is just the latest proof – President Trump has betrayed American workers.

This is the president’s nominee to serve as the Secretary of Labor – his whole job is to fight for American workers. But the president has sent us a corporate lawyer who’s fought over and over to stop workplace protections.

He has repeatedly defended companies against whistleblowers – he defended Wal-Mart against its workers.

He defended a corporation against 30 women who had been sexually harassed at assembly plants. He defended other corporations against workers with disabilities, after the companies violated the Americans With Disabilities Act.

Over and over and over, he has fought to help the most powerful corporations against workers – asking the courts to put their thumbs on the scales of justice to give more power to the already powerful.

Mr. Scalia also defended union-busting corporations. Boeing has been rabid in its anti-union coercion – and Scalia worked for them, advocating for them in their never-ending quest to stop workers from having a voice in their company.

What Mr. Scalia doesn’t understand and what President Trump doesn’t understand is that you can’t say you’re for workers individually if you don’t stand up for workers collectively.

You simply can’t support workers if you don’t support unions.

We need a Secretary of Labor who will actually fight for labor – not a corporate lawyer.

It all comes down to whose side you’re on – corporations, or American workers. Do you fight for Wall Street wealth, or the Dignity of Work?

The president promised to fight for American workers. He has betrayed them over and over and over.

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