IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 170 
Expressing support for Americas Black workers and affirming the need to 
pass legislation to reduce inequalities and discrimination in the workforce. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2025 
Mr. EVANS of Pennsylvania (for himself, Ms. BARRAGA´N, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. 
CARTER of Louisiana, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, 
Mr. IVEY, Mr. JACKSON of Illinois, Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Ms. NOR-
TON, Mrs. RAMIREZ, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. VEASEY, Ms. 
VELA´ZQUEZ, Ms. LEE of Pennsylvania, Ms. BYNUM, and Mr. CARSON) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for Americas Black workers and affirm-
ing the need to pass legislation to reduce inequalities 
and discrimination in the workforce. 
Whereas a competitive economy for the United States re-
quires the participation of a robust Black workforce; 
Whereas unjust Black labor, first through forced slave labor, 
and later through dangerous, undercompensated, and 
sometimes abusive employment, has been essential to the 
historic success of the American economy; 
Whereas the Black unemployment rate is consistently higher 
than the overall United States unemployment rate, with 
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•HRES 170 IH 
the Black unemployment rate at the time of this resolu-
tion’s introduction being 3 percentage points higher than 
overall unemployment; 
Whereas full-time Black workers’ median weekly earnings 
historically lag behind the total average median weekly 
earnings, and as of 2023, Black workers take home only 
87 percent of average full-time workers’ median weekly 
earnings; 
Whereas graduation from high school and higher education 
institutions are directly correlated with higher incomes 
and stronger job security, and Black Americans lag in 
completion of higher education, in part due to systemic 
racism within America’s school systems; 
Whereas many States continue to have insufficient labor 
standards, low minimum wages, harmful right-to-work 
laws, inadequate unemployment systems, and a lack of 
State-level protections against discrimination, all of which 
hurt Black workers and families; 
Whereas Black workers face a higher likelihood of fatal and 
nonfatal injuries in the workplace compared to injury 
rates for all workers; 
Whereas studies show that a significant percentage of Black 
workers continue to face discrimination or harassment in 
the workplace on account of their race or ethnicity, re-
sulting in decreased safety in the workplace, and dis-
advantages to economic mobility for Black workers; 
Whereas Black workers are more likely to be union members 
than non-Black workers, and have long been important 
participants in the American labor movement and the 
fight for better conditions, more just compensation, and 
the right to organize; 
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Whereas Black women are disproportionately affected by the 
same issues that affect Black men in the workforce, in-
cluding making only 69 cents for every dollar paid to 
White, non-Hispanic men and having higher unemploy-
ment rates than Black men; 
Whereas expanding apprenticeships and preapprenticeships 
must be part of any strategy to build careers for Black 
youths, as apprentice and preapprentice programs have 
proven to be a practical and efficient method for high 
school and college students to improve personal economic 
outlooks; and 
Whereas educational opportunities for Black youths should 
encompass a broad range of options to fit the diverse 
needs of young people entering the workforce, including 
making vocational and trade schools, technical colleges, 
higher education institutions, community colleges, job 
training 
programs, 
apprenticeships 
and 
preapprenticeships, and work-study programs more af-
fordable and accessible: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports efforts to reduce inequalities fac-
ing the Black workforce, including closing the wage 
gap, closing the unemployment gap, and improving 
access to job training programs, career skills build-
ing programs, and educational opportunities; 
(2) supports the right of every American work-
er, regardless of race or ethnicity, to fair wages, safe 
working conditions, collective bargaining and orga-
nizing rights, and protection from discrimination; 
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(3) supports the passage of legislation that 
would improve labor conditions for Black workers, 
including— 
(A) the Protecting the Right to Organize 
(PRO) Act; 
(B) the National Apprenticeship Act; 
(C) the Raise the Wage Act; and 
(D) the Workforce Innovation and Oppor-
tunity Act; and 
(4) recognizes the— 
(A) historical and contemporary impor-
tance of the Black workforce to American pros-
perity and national economic security; and 
(B) need to improve economic opportunity 
for Black workers as necessary for both indi-
vidual well-being and the well-being of the Na-
tion. 
Æ 
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