Rep. Susan Wild to Join House Committee on Education and Labor

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Representative Susan Wild (PA-07) was appointed to the House Education and Labor Committee, which oversees federal programs and initiatives dealing with education at all levels and has jurisdiction over labor initiatives aimed at strengthening health care, job training, and retirement security for workers.

"I worked hard to join the Education and Labor Committee because it gives me a powerful platform to fight for working families in Pennsylvania's 7th district. With jurisdiction over federal education programs, the committee gives me a strong position to fight for our many colleges and universities, technical and vocational facilities and the public school districts in PA-07. This committee has been actively seeking solutions to make higher education affordable to all who wish to go - something I believe is overdue and deeply necessary," said Rep. Wild.

Pennsylvania's seventh district is home to eight colleges and universities, several technical and vocational facilities, and two public school districts - which were designated "distressed."

Rep. Wild continued, "I also prioritized this committee so I could fight for our brothers and sisters in labor and get to work on the policies and initiatives that will grow our middle class, protect workers, and make a livable wage a reality for all who work day in and day out to provide for their families.

"When I was running for office, I made a promise to fight for an education system that provides Pennsylvania students with the tools they need to succeed in the 21st century workforce, to fight for a strong economy with the good paying jobs they deserve, and I promised to preserve Social Security so folks who have worked their entire lives can retire with dignity. My constituents have my solemn promise, once again, to use my place on the Education and Labor Committee to do just that."

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said, "We are thrilled to congratulate Congresswoman Susan Wild on her appointment to the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee. If there is anyone in the House who knows the plight of Pennsylvania workers, it's the woman who represents a community that's felt the decline of the steel industry and re-emerged. The Pennsylvania AFLCIO knows that Congresswoman Wild will proudly serve the interests of the working women and men of our Commonwealth."

Lehigh Valley Labor Council President James Irwin said, "On behalf of the Lehigh Valley Labor Council and the 30,000 plus union members in the Lehigh Valley, I would like to congratulate Congresswoman Wild on her appointment to the Education and Labor Committee. We know that Education and the Labor Movement are important to Rep. Wild and she will fight hard in Washington to ensure that workers' rights are being protected - not only in the Lehigh Valley but throughout the Country. We look forward to working with her on these issues in the future."

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