Congressman Cleaver to Hold Press Conference

Millions of Salaried Workers, who had been denied pay, will now be eligible to receive Overtime Pay

(Kansas City, MO) – Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II will hold a press conference on Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. regarding the Department of Labor's new Overtime Rule.  In May of 2016, President Barack Obama and Secretary Thomas Perez announced the Department of Labor's final rule updating overtime regulations. Prior to this announcement, the overtime rules had not been updated in several decades.

In the recent years, middle-class income and wages have stagnated while income inequality has risen such that the top 1 percent holds 21 percent of national income. Currently, millions of salaried employees work well over 40 hours each week and are not paid for the overtime they accrue. This new rule will automatically extend overtime pay to over 4 million workers within the first year of implementation resulting in a meaningful boost to working families everywhere.

It ensures that every worker is compensated for their hard work. The new rule would raise American wages by an estimated $12 Billion over the next decade. You can read more about the new rule here. The new rule takes effect on December 1, 2016.

Last month, the House of Representatives considered a bill to delay implementation of the overtime rule. Though H.R. 6094 passed the House by a vote of 246-177, it was opposed by Congressman Cleaver.

Congressman Cleaver will make an announcement in support of the new rule at the GoodWORKS Career Center of Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas where several employees and employees with other like companies will benefit from this welcomed change.

WHO:            Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II; Stefany Williams, President / CEO of Goodwill of Western Missouri and Eastern Kansas

WHAT:         Announcement of DOL Overtime Rule

WHEN:         Thursday, October 27, 2016, 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:      Goodwill Store, 4824 North Oak Trafficway, Kansas City, MO  64118

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, and also a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.

For more information, please contact Heather Frierson at 816-842-4545 or Heather.Frierson@mail.house.gov.

About: Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit agency whose mission is to empower people with disadvantages and different abilities to earn and keep employment through individualized programs and services. Learn more at www.mokangoodwill.org.