I4AW Presents Defender of Worker Freedom Award to Sen. Bill Cassidy for Championing Worker Choice and Independent Contracting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2024
CONTACT: Mary Ellen Beatty, MaryEllen@i4aw.org

HAMILTON, VA. —Institute for the American Worker is proud to honor Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) with our annual Defender of Worker Freedom award. Sen. Cassidy demonstrated his commitment to freedom in the workplace by promoting pro-worker legislation such as the Employee Rights Act, pushing back against the Department of Labor’s attempts to limit opportunity for independent contractors, and many other consequential actions.

“Sen. Cassidy has stood firm protecting workers and job creators across the country,” said I4AW President F. Vincent Vernuccio. “He has defended against government overreach and overzealous appointees such as Acting Secretary Julie Su and NLRB Chair Lauren McFerran.”

Presented each year, this award is given to individuals who champion workers and promote freedom and flexibility in federal labor policy. We applaud Sen. Cassidy for his contributions to worker freedom in Congress.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) since 2023, Sen. Cassidy has sponsored or co-sponsored several pivotal pieces of labor legislation such as the Employee Rights Act, the Union Members Right to Know Act, the Making All Fund Information Available Act, and the Restoring Integrity in Fiduciary Duty Act.

In a press release introducing the Employee Rights Act, Cassidy said, “Being pro-worker means defending the rights of all workers, including those who decide it is not in their best interest to form or join a union.”

Additionally, Sen. Cassidy has helped keep free-market principles at the forefront of labor policy in the following ways:

• Supported independent workers by sponsoring the CRA to block the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Independent Contracting rule,
• Publicly opposed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act at Congressional hearings, a committee vote, and in the media, and
• Defended Florida public transit employees against Acting DOL Secretary Julie Su’s retaliation against the state for its efforts to protect their right to union democracy and transparency.

I4AW presented the award to Sen. Cassidy at his offices on Capitol Hill. Rep. Virginia Foxx was also honored with the award.

To speak with I4AW President F. Vincent Vernuccio please email MaryEllen@i4aw.org to set up an interview.

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*Pictured above: Sen. Bill Cassidy (center) receiving the Defender of Worker Freedom Award in his office on Capitol Hill, alongside I4AW President F. Vincent Vernuccio (left) and I4AW Staffer Mary Ellen Beatty (right).