132 Members of Congress Sign Letter to President Obama Urging Recess Appointments to NLRB

Contact: Helen Machado, 202-225-1766, Office of Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, and Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org  

Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard Leads Congressional Effort Urging Swift Appointments by the President to the National Labor Relations Board 

Washington, D.C. – Some 132 members of Congress signed a letter urging President Obama to use his legal authority to make recess appointments to install Mark Pearce and Craig Becker on the National Labor Relations Board.

Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard spearheaded a congressional effort to bring about appointments by President Obama to the NLRB.

For nearly a year, the five-member NLRB has had just two members, creating a backlog of important cases that has left tens of thousands of workers with no recourse for justice. Senate Republicans have used holds and filibusters to block the confirmation of these nominations and most recently launched a filibuster to prevent a final vote on the nomination of Craig Becker.

Congresswoman Roybal-Allard stressed that “thousands of American workers who have sought resolution of their disputes have been put on hold, because of the NLRB’s gridlock. I urge the President to act, on behalf of workers who have been waiting months, if not years, for justice,” she said.

CWA President Larry Cohen said that “for too long, workers’ interests have been pushed aside when it comes to workplace justice. We need to end the gridlock, reduce the backlog and resolve the important cases that now are before the Board.”

"Pearce and Becker are both highly qualified, well respected labor lawyers. There is no reason that their nominations should not go forward, except for the obstructionist tactics of the Chamber of Commerce and their Senate allies,” Cohen said.

Cohen praised Congressman Roybal-Allard for focusing congressional attention on the critical need for a fully functioning NLRB. 

Recess appointments have become a common way for presidents to seat nominees in the absence of a Senate vote. President George W. Bush made 171 recess appointments; President Bill Clinton made 139.

Attachment: Text of letter to President Obama,

March 26, 2010
The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

We are writing to urge you to exercise your legal authority to make recess appointments to install Craig Becker and Mark Pearce on the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) during the Congressional recess that begins on March 29, 2010.

For far too long, the five-member NLRB has consisted of only two members - one Democratic appointee and one Republican appointee.  This has resulted in a growing caseload of contentious issues left unresolved.  Thousands of American workers who seek resolution of their disputes have been put on hold due to continued gridlock at the government agency charged with administering the National Labor Relations Act.

The Senate voted by a significant majority to allow the chamber to exercise its constitutional right to advise and consent on the merits of your nomination of Mr. Becker to serve on the NLRB.  Unfortunately, the obstructionist tactics of a few have prevented the majority from confirming your choices for the NLRB. The consequences of an extended impasse are serious.   Further inaction will increase the backlog of unresolved disputes, delay justice, and send the message to American workers that there is no referee in labor disputes.

As you are aware, there is precedent to use recess appointments to fill NLRB vacancies.  President Bush filled seven out of the nine seats on the Board during his Administration using recess appointments.  We urge you to use the same mechanism during the upcoming Congressional recess in the event the Senate once again fails to confirm your nominees before it adjourns.

Attachment: List of congressional signers

• Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard
• Rep. Zoe Lofgren
• Rep. Michael A. Arcuri
• Rep. Paul Tonko
• Rep. Lloyd Doggett
• Rep. Robert A. Brady
• Rep. James A. Himes
• Rep. Joe Courtney
• Rep. Stephen F. Lynch
• Rep. Doris O. Matsui
• Rep. Charles A. Wilson
• Rep. Al Green
• Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.
• Rep. Fortney Pete Stark
• Rep. Charles A. Gonzalez
• Rep. Timothy H. Bishop
• Rep. Donna F. Edwards
• Rep. Michael E. McMahon
• Rep. Gerald E. Connolly
• Rep. Michael F. Doyle
• Rep. Christopher S. Murphy
• Rep. Andre Carson
• Rep. John P. Sarbanes
• Rep. Phil Hare
• Rep. Brian Higgins
• Rep. James P. McGovern
• Rep. Ben Ray Lujan
• Rep. Kathleen A. Dahlkemper
• Rep. Steven Cohen
• Rep. Bruce L. Braley
• Rep. Joe Sestak
• Rep. Emanuel Cleaver
• Rep. Yvette D. Clarke
• Rep. Chellie Pingree
• Rep. Lois Capps
• Rep. John W. Olver
• Rep. Loretta Sanchez
• Rep. Keith Ellison
• Rep. Sam Farr
• Rep. Gary C. Peters
• Rep. Rush D. Holt
• Rep. John J. Hall
• Rep. David Loebsack
• Rep. Linda T. Sanchez
• Rep. Sander M. Levin
• Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy
• Rep. Gwen Moore
• Rep. Paul W. Hodes
• Rep. Mike Quigley
• Rep. Bill Foster
• Rep. Peter Welch
• Rep. Mark H. Schauer
• Rep. Michael E. Capuano
• Rep. Leonard L. Boswell
• Rep. Raul M. Grijalva
• Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson
• Rep. John A. Boccieri
• Rep. Marcia L. Fudge
• Rep. Grace F. Napolitano
• Rep. Daniel B. Maffei
• Rep. Chris Van Hollen
• Rep. Russ Camahan
• Rep. Michael M. Honda
• Rep. Betty McCollum
• Rep. Daniel Lipinski
• Rep. Betty Sutton
• Rep. Timothy J. Walz
• Rep. Michael H. Michaud
• Rep. Laura Richardson
• Rep. Dennis Moore
• Rep. Anthony D. Weiner
• Rep. Dale E. Kildee
• Rep. Edward J. Markey
• Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz
• Rep. Peter A. DeFazio
• Rep. Danny K. Davis
• Rep. Elliot L. Engel
• Rep. George Miller
• Rep. Henry A. Waxman
• Rep. Collin Peterson
• Rep. Howard L. Berman
• Rep. Carlos E. Serrano
• Rep. Edolphus Towns
• Rep. Elijah E. Cummings
• Rep. John F. Tierney
• Rep. James P. Moran
• Rep. Brad Sherman
• Rep. Gary L. Ackerman
• Rep. Joe Baca
• Rep. Barney Frank
• Rep. Lynn C. Woolsey
• Rep. Robert E. Andrews
• Rep. Luis V. Gutierrez
• Rep. Allan B. Mollohan
• Rep. Steven R. Rothman
• Rep. Melvin L. Watt
• Rep. Nick J. Rahall
• Rep. John D. Dingell
• Rep. Nita M. Lowey
• Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney
• Rep. Jerrold Nadler
• Rep. Carolyn McCarthy
• Rep. Ciro D. Rodriguez
• Rep. Alcee L. Hastings
• Rep. Charles B. Rangel
• Rep. James L. Oberstar
• Rep. William L. Owens
• Rep. Janice D. Schakowsky
• Rep. Gene Green
• Rep. Jane Harman
• Rep. Joseph Crowley
• Rep. Jerry F. Costello
• Rep. Rosa DeLauro
• Rep. Bobby L. Rush
• Rep. William Lacey Clay
• Rep. Judy Chu
• Rep. John Conyers, Jr.
• Rep. Bob Filner
• Rep. Diane E. Watson
• Rep. Maurice D. Hinchey
• Rep. Barbara Lee
• Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich
• Rep. Tammy Baldwin
• Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger
• Rep. Steve Israel
• Rep. John Garamendi
• Rep. Ruben Hinojosa
• Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.
• Rep. Nydia M. Velasquez
• Rep. Louise McIntosh Slaughter
• Rep. Henry C. "Hank" Johnson
• Rep. Steve Kagen