Rep. Omar Outlines Agenda for Workforce Protections Subcommittee Ranking Member, Unveils Fact Sheet

WASHINGTON—Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) outlined her agenda as Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, a subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and Workforce. The Congresswoman also unveiled her fact sheet here and below. 

“As Ranking Member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, I’m ready to stand with workers and fight back against efforts by Donald Trump and Elon Musk to undermine workers’ rights. Minnesota has been the North Star state for workers’s rights and I am ready to bring our Minnesota values in this leadership role. My office will not only shine a light to these problems at hearings, but demand real answers through our subcommittee’s oversight authority. I plan to send fact-finding inquiries and organize delegation-wide letters. 

“I will be laser focused on fighting back attempts by the Trump Administration to take us backward. In this role, I will have direct oversight on the agencies meant to protect workers, including the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and the Wage & Hour Division. Donald Trump is already trying to gut anti-discrimination and accessibility employment protections, which is why our subcommittee will be providing crucial oversight. 

“Workers deserve the world and I will do everything in my power to ensure they get the benefits and rights they are owed.” 

FACT SHEET 

Why does our work matter? 

The Workforce Protections Subcommittee plays a critical role in safeguarding the rights and well-being of workers. By overseeing federal agencies like the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) and the Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Subcommittee Democrats will work to ensure that employers are complying with labor laws, workers are protected from workplace hazards, and fair wages and benefits are provided. As Ranking Member, Rep. Omar will be in charge of holding the Trump Administration accountable for workforce protection violations. 

What jurisdiction does the subcommittee have?

The Subcommittee has jurisdiction over a wide range of labor issues, including:

• Wage and Hour Laws: The Subcommittee oversees the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which sets the federal minimum wage, overtime pay thresholds, and youth employment standards.
• Workers’ Compensation: The Subcommittee oversees the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs, which administers important disability compensation programs for injured federal workers, longshore and harbor workers, coal miners, and energy employees. 
• Workplace Safety: The Subcommittee oversees OSHA, which sets workplace safety and health standards. 
• Equal Opportunity: The Subcommittee oversees issues of workplace discrimination, including racial, gender, and age discrimination.

What priorities will Rep. Omar focus on? 

In the immediate term, Ranking Member Omar will prioritize protecting workers’ rights from GOP attacks and holding corporations accountable for labor violations. At a time when the Department of Labor is being threatened by budget cuts from Congressional Republicans and institutional erosion by Trump and DOGE, she will advocate for robust federal funding and stronger legal guardrails for critical worker protection programs. She will always continue to fight for livable wages, earned benefits, safe working conditions, and the right to organize for all workers. 

In the long-term, Rep. Omar will prioritize addressing the future of work and worker well-being to prepare the workforce for the challenges and opportunities of automation and artificial intelligence and making sure our workplace safety standards are up to par in emerging industries. She will also advocate for fair labor practices globally and combat forced labor and child labor.

How will this leadership role benefit Minnesotans?

By leveraging her position on the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, Rep. Omar will be a powerful advocate for Minnesotan workers and a force for positive change in the American workplace. She will push for policy and oversight priorities to protect Minnesotans from our most pressing challenges, such as wage theft and workforce development.

She will also be able to use this position to examine and elevate Minnesota’s successful initiatives for Congress and other states to follow. Recently, Minnesota has banned noncompete agreements, enhanced safety protections for agricultural, warehouse, and construction workers, and established the first-in-the-nation ergonomics standard. She will fight on the federal level to safeguard these fundamental protections and ensure the Trump Administration does not erode workers’ rights.