Pelosi: On Labor Day We Pay Tribute to the Talent and Entrepreneurial Spirit of American Workers
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement today on Labor Day, which will be celebrated on Monday, September 3:
‘On Labor Day, we pay tribute to the talent, intellect, and entrepreneurial spirit of hard-working Americans, who through their labor have made our nation strong.
‘This holiday is fundamentally different from all the others we celebrate as a nation. As Samuel Gompers said many years ago: ‘All other holidays are in a more or less degree connected with conflicts and battles of man’s prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed and power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. Labor Day…is devoted to no man, living or dead, to no sect, race, or nation.’ Instead, it is devoted to all Americans who every day struggle and strive to ensure their families, and our nation, prosper.
‘This year, Democrats have honored the spirit of Labor Day with our work in Congress. For the first time in 10 years, we gave some of America’s hardest workers a raise, by increasing the minimum wage. In the House, we passed legislation to protect the fundamental right of workers to organize, and with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, corrected an erroneous Supreme Court decision, and in so doing restored the fundamental value of equal pay for equal work. Central to all the efforts of House Democrats will always be the fundamental principle of keeping the American dream within reach for all those we honor this Labor Day.’