CONGRESSWOMAN SYLVIA GARCIA INTRODUCES THE CONSTRUCTION INJURY PREVENTION ACT

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia (TX-29) introduced the Construction Injury Prevention Act to protect construction workers from injuries by requiring employers to offer at least one 15-minute paid rest break every four hours of work. This rest break law also requires the employer to notify the employee of their right to their paid rest breaks at the start of employment.

Shockingly, surveys show in Texas nearly 39 percent of construction workers do not receive rest breaks. On top of that, Houston, Texas, has a vast construction industry with more than a quarter-million construction workers laboring in the region -- making this rest break law a remarkably important bill with massive national and regional benefits.

"I introduced this bill to protect the construction workers who are building a better America across our nation and the Houston region," said Congresswoman Garcia. "I've heard far too many horror stories from workers who have been seriously injured due to employers not allowing rest breaks. These cruel business practices hurt minorities and Latino communities, like those in my district, the most. These are essential workers who contribute massively to our economy and infrastructure, and they must be protected with paid rest breaks."

"Workers Defense members led the fight at the local level in Austin and Dallas, in 2010 and 2015, respectively, to pass Rest Break Ordinances that guarantee construction workers water breaks in lieu of federal law. These local policies are now serving as a model for what the federal government can do to protect construction workers across the country. We thank Congresswoman Garcia for her leadership on this issue and meeting the critical moment we are in as more workers' lives are threatened by the impact of climate change and the death toll not having a rest break takes on construction workers and their families." – Lizeth Chacón, Co-Executive Director, Workers Defense Project & Workers Defense Action Fund

"It's no secret the job of building America is a dangerous one. Tragically, construction workers suffer deaths and injuries from extreme temperatures every day in all corners of this country, so we must take this important step to protect our construction workforce. The members of LIUNA thank Congresswoman Garcia for filing this important measure to guarantee life-saving rest breaks, because we simply can't allow one more worker to die and one more family to be destroyed while we do nothing." – Jeremy Hendricks, Assistant Business Manager, Southwest Laborers District Council – LIUNA

Additionally, the rest break law would:

• prohibit employer retaliation of any kind for the employee taking paid rest breaks
• require an employer to notify a new employee of their right to paid rest breaks at the start of employment
• require an employer to post notice of employee's right to paid breaks both in English and Spanish in a public space

Current original cosponsors include: Reps. Porter, Chu, McCollum, Chuy Garcia, Allred, Norton, Espaillat, Veasey, Green, Tlaib, Casar, and Doggett.

The bill is endorsed by LiUNA and the Workers Defense Project.

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Congresswoman Sylvia R. Garcia was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2018, becoming the first Latina ever to represent the Texas 29th Congressional District. She serves on the Financial Services Committee.