1. United States
2. Ore.
3. Letter

I urge you to reject H.R. 1319, which would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act and the National Labor Relations Act to impose a restrictive definition of "employee." This legislation prioritizes corporate interests over workers' rights by making it easier to misclassify employees as independent contractors, depriving them of critical protections and benefits. The proposed criteria for determining employee status unduly emphasize an individual's entrepreneurial opportunities while disregarding the realities of workplace control exerted by employers. Excluding factors like compliance with legal requirements, safety standards, insurance mandates, and performance metrics essentially gives companies a free pass to evade labor laws. Rather than stripping workers of hard-won rights, we should strengthen laws to prevent misclassification and ensure all employees receive fair wages, benefits, and bargaining power. This bill represents a step backwards that would undermine job security, workplace safety, and economic stability for millions of Americans. I implore you to stand up for the rights and dignity of workers by voting against this misguided legislation.