Anderson’s full testimony can be found HERE once the hearing begins.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) today announced Karen Anderson, visiting fellow at IWF, will testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce at 10:15 a.m. ET tomorrow, April 19, on Biden’s attack on America’s freelance workforce.
The Subcommittee on Workforce Protections hearing, entitled, “Examining Biden’s War on Independent Contractors,” will examine harmful policies that will threaten the careers of freelance workers.
In her testimony, Anderson writes, in part, “The ripple effects of AB5 have spread to the most marginalized. Speech language pathologists in my group told me they had to abandon their elderly patients whom they were teaching to learn how to swallow after recovering from a stroke. Sign-language interpreters told me they could not provide ADA-mandated services to the deaf-and-hard-of hearing. Non-profit youth sports clubs described how they had to close their doors due to AB5. Interpreters told me the availability of language services in hospitals and public settings was being compromised.”
Hearing witnesses include:
- Ms. Tammy McCutchen, Senior Affiliate, Resolution Economics, New Market
- Ms. Kim Kavin, Freelance Writer and Editor, Morris County
- Dr. Liya Palagashvili, Senior Research Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University
- Ms. Karen Anderson, Founder of Freelancers Against AB5, Independent Women’s Forum Visiting Fellow
- Ms. Laura Padin, Director of Work Structures, National Employment Law Project (Minority Witness)
- Mr. David Long, Chief Executive Officer, National Electrical Contractors Association (Minority Witness)
Specific areas of concern that Anderson will focus on in her testimony include:
- The ripple effects of AB5 being spread across all demographics, income levels, political affiliations, and the vast swath of professions, trades, non-profits and sectors;
- The over 600 categories of professions she has identified that have been impacted in some way by AB5 and its onerous ABC test;
- AB5’s impact not only on independent contractors, but also on small businesses; and
- The arbitrary exemption process.
During her testimony, Anderson will highlight the need for Congress to:
- Understand the array of professions affected in some way by AB5 [includes musicians, translators, interpreters, small nonprofit arts groups, community theaters, independent healthcare professionals, indie filmmakers, holiday performers, Christmas carolers, real estate appraisers, rehab specialists, sign-language interpreters, videographers, photographers, wedding planners, florists, event planners, opera singers, wellness professionals, auctioneers, funeral officiants, massage therapists, forensic nurses, paralegals, court reporters, pharmacists, architectural designers, animal shelter consultants, music therapists, cancer registrars, youth coaches, comedians, after-school programs, dance companies, lighting directors, magicians, makeup artists, tutors, guitar makers, virtual assistants, creative consultants, realtime captioners, churches, lactation consultants, fly-fishing guides and many, many more]; and
- Prevent legislation like California’s devastating AB5 bill from advancing nationally.
“The last thing our economy needs right now is overreaching federal policies that discourage work and attack workers,” said Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chairman Kevin Kiley (R-CA). “Yet DOL’s independent contractor rule and the PRO Act, like AB 5 in California, do just that – depriving millions of Americans of the opportunity to work independently and start their own business. The Biden administration is all in on these failed policies, even nominating the architect of the disastrous AB 5 law, Julie Su, to head the Department of Labor. Our committee will protect the freedom of American workers to earn a living as they choose and will fight every effort by Washington bureaucrats to take that right away.”
Details:
WHAT: The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Hearing Entitled, “Examining Biden’s War on Independent Contractors”
WHEN: Wednesday, April 19, 2023 at 10:15 AM
WHERE: 2175 Rayburn