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"As the son of a sharecropper whose father was a member of the postal workers' union, and as a member of the teachers’ union myself, I believe that protecting the rights and safety of working people is equivalent to protecting the well-being of our families and ultimately our future."
- Congressman Mike Honda
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PROVEN ALLY AND DEFENDER OF WORKING FAMILIES
Mike’s priorities to support people who work for a living and strengthen the middle class are clearly put into action. He has actively fought to increase the minimum wage so that every American can earn a decent living wage and have the access and tools to bargain for fair benefits. Throughout his 20+ years as an elected official, he has been a champion for labor and an ally of working families both at home and at the national level – from mentoring emerging labor and elected leaders to his ardent legislative efforts to create a stronger regulatory system protecting workers. He has earned a 98% lifetime score from the AFL-CIO for his longtime leadership on issues affecting working families, and has been a supportive co-sponsor and whip member for the Employee Free Choice Act, which would simplify the union forming process.
Educator across Sectors
Education is a key component in sustaining a robust and progressive workforce, and Mike’s membership in the CTA and AFT during his thirty years as a teacher, vice-principal, principal and school board member reinforces his genuine dedication and investment to our nation’s workforce. Committed to diverse educational pathways, he has adamantly fought for funding local workforce programs, as well as including funds in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for green job training programs. |
INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE TRAINING AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
Acting Local
As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services, and Education, he had jurisdiction over the Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, and the National Mediation Board. As a senior appropriator, Mike advocates for Workforce Investment Act Programs, fights to bring money home for workforce training and support programs, and has appropriated over a million dollars into labor job training projects in the district to date.
Placing People above Profit
When Solyndra laid-off most of its workforce and filed for bankruptcy protection in 2011, Mike’s immediate concern was for the welfare of the former employees and their families. He advocated for the Department of Labor to provide temporary assistance, ensuring that the employees were not forgotten amidst corporate politics. Similarly, when New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc. (NUMMI) was struggling, Mike urged the Toyota CEO against a closure, and fought for trade adjustment assistance funding when NUMMI was eventually shut down.
Advocating for Underrepresented Communities
As Chair Emeritus of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressman Honda has advocated for the rights of underrepresented communities and people of color in the workplace. Recognized as a national leader in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community, Mike has tirelessly worked to engage people of diverse backgrounds in the labor movement. |
FAIR TRADE
The key to fair trade is to ensure that each bilateral or multi-lateral trade agreement includes robust labor standards. As a result, Mike voted against the U.S.-Singapore FTA, the U.S.-Chile FTA, DR-CAFTA, and most recently against the 3 bilateral FTAs with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama due to his concerns about their lack of clear and enforceable labor standards and potential domestic job losses. |
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