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TO MEMORIALIZE THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND ASK IT TO END ITS ROLE AS SOUTH CAROLINA'S LEADING LOW-WAGE JOB CREATOR AND TO URGE THE NEXT PRESIDENT TO ISSUE AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO AWARD FEDERAL CONTRACTS, LOANS, AND GRANTS ONLY TO MODEL EMPLOYERS THAT PAY WORKERS A LIVING WAGE OF $15 AN HOUR, PROVIDE GOOD BENEFITS, AND ALLOW WORKERS TO ORGANIZE WITHOUT RETALIATION.
Whereas, the government of the United States of America is the leading low-wage job creator in the State of South Carolina, funding over 30,000 low-wage jobs through federal contracts, loans, and grants in the private sector; and
Whereas, federal contractors that pay poverty wages force over 100,000 South Carolina working families to rely on taxpayer-supported public assistance programs to provide basic necessities like food, shelter, and healthcare; and
Whereas, federal contractors who create low-wage jobs contribute to South Carolina ranking 46th in child poverty, 48th in per capita income, and last in union membership; and
Whereas, the next President of the United States is empowered by the Constitution and laws of the United States to promote the economy and efficiency in procurement by doing business with responsible and model employers; and
Whereas, the next President is vested with the authority to build upon the precedent and legacy established by President Barack Obama who used his executive powers to boost the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour through Executive Order 13658, to end wage theft and other labor law violations through Executive Order 13673, and to extend paid leave through Executive Order 13706 on federal contracts; and
Whereas, in order to provide good living wage jobs for the working families of our state, the South Carolina House of Representatives calls on the government of the United States of America to end its role as South Carolina's leading low-wage job creator, calls on the next President to issue a Model Employer Executive Order that will only award federal contracts, loans, and grants to model employers that pay a living wage of $15 an hour, provide good benefits, allow workers to organize without retaliation, and call on all other state legislatures to pass a similar resolution in support of a Model Employer Executive Order. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the House of Representatives, by this resolution, memorialize the government of the United States of America and ask it to end its role as South Carolina's leading low-wage job creator and urge the next president to issue an executive order to award federal contracts, loans, and grants only to model employers that pay workers a living wage of $15 an hour, provide good benefits, and allow workers to organize without retaliation.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to all candidates running to become the next President of the United States.
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