Blumenthal Statement on DC Circuit Court Ruling on Wage Rules for Home Care Workers

(Hartford, CT) – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal released the following statement today after the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the U.S. Department of Labor’s efforts to apply the Fair Labor Standards Act to home care workers. In February of this year, Sen. Blumenthal was one of 50 Members of Congress to file an amicus brief challenging a District Court ruling to exempt home care workers from minimum wage and overtime protections.

“For far too long, nearly two million home care workers – the vast majority of whom are women – have worked without fundamental wage and overtime protections while providing a critical service in communities nationwide. The number of workers in this field is expected to grow even further in the years to come, and today’s court ruling affirms the right of these workers to have basic economic security without fear they’ll fall into poverty. I commend the court for its thoughtful ruling and the advocates who have fought so hard to achieve this victory, which I will work hard to defend from future attacks.”

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