Apr 30, 2024
Press
Budzinski Speaks at NABTU Legislative Conference, Helps Launch Bipartisan Building Trades Caucus
WASHINGTON — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) gave remarks at the North American Building Trades Union’s 2023 Legislative Conference and joined union members and congressional colleagues to launch the bipartisan Building Trades Caucus.
During this year’s gathering, Budzinski, the only House Democrat to address the conference, highlighted her background in the labor movement and efforts during her first few months in Congress to support working people. The conference also featured speeches from President Joe Biden and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
WATCH: Budzinski Speaks at North American Building Trades Union Legislative Conference
Congresswoman Budzinski started her career at the Laborers International Union of North America and the International Association of Fire Fighters before spending seven years with the United Food and Commercial Workers Unions where she is still a dues-paying member. She also served as the senior advisor on labor issues for Governor J.B. Pritzker, where she helped lead negotiations to raise Illinois’ minimum wage to $15 an hour and restore project labor agreements.
In Congress, Budzinski has worked tirelessly to support working families. Her very first bill, the LEAP Act, would provide grants to small businesses that hire apprenticeship employees. Budzinski is also an original cosponsor on the PRO Act, a bipartisan bill that protects workers’ right to unionize. In addition to legislation, Budzinski led every freshman Democrat in a letter to President Biden advocating for strong worker protections in any future trade agreements and launched a Climate Jobs Task Force focused on ensuring that the transition to clean energy is built with union labor.
As a member of the bipartisan Building Trades Caucus, Budzinski joins Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle to tackle issues affecting the millions of men and women who work in the building and construction industry. The caucus is co-chaired by Congressman Donald Norcross (D-NJ-01) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01).
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