Posts tagged Association Health Plans Act

    Op-ed / Commentary Radio / Pod Cast Video ● Labor Unions

    Pro-Worker or Pro-Union? Why Choice—not Coercion—Is the Future of Labor Policy, Disunion: The Government Union Report; Commonwealth Foundation

    December 18, 2025 // This week on Disunion, host David Osborne is joined by Austen Bannan of Americans for Prosperity and Vincent Vernuccio, president of the Institute for the American Worker, to break down a sweeping new report: How to Empower Workers: Embracing a Pro-Worker Agenda Built on Choice. With Congress rolling out a flurry of labor bills—from right-to-work reforms and secret ballot protections to proposals backed by unions and even some Republicans—this episode cuts through the noise. The panel explains why many so-called “pro-worker” policies actually empower union bosses and government regulators, not workers themselves.

    Alabama Americans for Prosperity Association Health Plans Act Austen Bannon Bill Cassidy Bob Onder collective bargaining Commonwealth Foundation Congress David Osborne Democrat Employee Rights Act Faster Labor Contracts Act Forced unionization independent contracting Jim Banks Joint Employer Josh Hawley Kim Kavin Labor Law Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 Labor Policy Labor Reform NLRA NLRB opt-out portable benefits privacy private sector Pro-union pro-worker Public Sector quorum Republicans right-to-work Save Local Business Act Secret Ballot secret ballot elections sectoral bargaining Teamsters Tennessee Tim Scott Tommy Tuberville union contract union SALTS Utah Vinnie Vernuccio Warehouse Worker Protection Act

    Op-ed / Commentary Research ● Labor

    Testimony by Rachel Greszler on the Positive Impact of Seniors in Today’s Economy

    December 11, 2025 // Demographic Shifts Mean That Older Americans Are Increasingly Vital Contributors to the American Economy The combination of declining fertility rates, the aging of the baby boomer population, and increased life expectancies means that older Americans are a rapidly growing share of the population. Beginning in 2034, there will be more seniors than children in America for the first time in U.S. history

    21st Century Worker Act Association Health Plans Act Depression-era Economic Policy Innovation Center economy education experience freelance work Health Freedom Account health insurance Heritage Foundation Independent Retirement Fairness Act Independent work labor force participation Medicare older workers Retirement retirement age Retirement Earnings Test Rick Scott Save Local Business Act seniors small businesses Social Security Social Security Administration The Modern Worker Empowerment Act Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act volunteer work workforce

    Op-ed / Commentary Research ● Labor Unionization Unions

    Testimony: Rachel Greszler: Labor Law Reform Part 1: Diagnosing the Issues, Exploring Current Proposals

    October 10, 2025 // SummaryToday’s challenges—from the rise of artificial intelligence to the expansion of independent work and the growing demand for flexibility, autonomy, and new skills—necessitate modernized labor laws that are pro-worker and pro-employer, regardless of the type of workplace. Heavy-handed government interventions and attempts to bring back the 1950s’ ways of work are not the answers. American labor laws should preserve the freedom, dignity, and opportunity that make American work exceptional.

    agency shop Alexander T. MacDonald arbitration panel Artificial Intelligence Association Health Plans Act automation autonomy BLS California Chattanooga collective bargaining agreement condition of employment Congress contract ratification DEI disabled discriminate DOL economic conditions Employee Rights Act entrepreneurship F. Vincent Vernuccio Fairness and Transparency Office Faster Labor Contracts Act federal labor law Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service flexibility forced arbitration freedom of association freedom of speech gig workers health and safety Heritage Foundation independent contracting Independent Retirement Fairness Act injury rates Janus v. AFSCME joint-employer standard Labor Law Reform NLRA older opt-out overweight paid family leave personal information political activities politicization pregnant presidential administrations private businesses pro-employer pro-worker productivity Public Sector Workers quotas Raise Act regulation remote work Rewarding Achievement and Incentivizing Successful Employees (RAISE) Act right-to-work SALT Act Save Local Business Act secret ballot elections self-employment Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Senate Hearing Strikes Supreme Court Tennessee testimony U.S. citizens UAW unelected bureaucrats union dues union extortion union shop union violence union wage premium Unionization Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act Volkswagen Wage and Hour Division Warehouse Worker Protection Act warehouses Worker Enfranchisement Act workplace benefits

    Op-ed / Commentary Research ● Labor Unions

    Federal and State Leaders Take Aim at Empowering America’s Flexible Workforce

    July 16, 2025 // However, while federal leaders build support for national reforms to help workers all across America, states are not sitting idle. They know that not only do self-employed workers support greater access to portable benefits, but their residents in general think this warrants policy reforms as well. Instead, many are forging ahead with legal pathways for flexible, portable benefits, maximizing what they can do at the state level in ways that will be further enhanced by federal reforms when they occur. Many states introduced legislation this year to legalize voluntary benefits, but several pioneering states now have laws enacted.

    Association Health Plans Act benefits Bill Cassidy Bureau of Labor and Statistics co-employers Covid DOL Employee Rights Act employment test Fair Labor Standards Act flexible work franchises H.R. 1320 H.R. 4154 health care independent contractors Independent Retirement Fairness Act Joint Employer Kevin Kiley Modern Worker Empowerment Act Modern Worker Security Act NLRA Pension portable benefits Rand Paul Retirement Rick Allen self-employed Senate HELP Committee Tennessee Tim Scott Tim Walberg Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act Utah

    News Article ● Employee Rights Act ERA Labor

    Legislation helping independent workers access portable benefits introduced

    July 10, 2025 // Currently, while 80 percent of independent workers would like access to workplace benefits, decades old federal labor and employment law prevent them from doing so. The legislative package is supported by independent worker organizations like Flex Association, the Institute for the American Worker and the National Retail Federation, to name a few. “The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act is an important step toward addressing some of the federal legal hurdles that complicate efforts to connect independent contractors with portable benefits while ensuring that the millions of Americans who choose to earn on their own terms can continue doing so without risking the independence and flexibility they value. Flex looks forward to working with Senator Cassidy and other forward-thinking policymakers as there is additional work to be done on this issue at the state and federal levels,” Kristin Sharp, CEO of Flex Association.

    Association Health Plans Association Health Plans Act Bill Cassidy contract workers Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 employment law employment test federal labor law Flex Association flexibility Freelancers gig workers health care independent contractors Independent Retirement Fairness Act Institute for the American Worker KRISTIN SHARP Modern Worker Empowerment Act National Retail Federation portable benefits Rand Paul retirement benefits Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Small Business sole proprietors Tim Scott Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act

    Press Release ● Labor

    Chair Cassidy, Scott, Paul Release Legislative Package Empowering Independent Workers to Access Portable Benefits

    July 7, 2025 // “We applaud Sen. Cassidy for striving to ensure independent contractors can be protected and receive benefits similar to employees without jeopardizing their entrepreneurship or independence. The Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act supports independent contractors and freelancers by allowing businesses to provide benefits without redefining worker status. In today’s evolving economy, flexible work shouldn’t come at the cost of healthcare or retirement security. This legislation helps ensure that all American workers – regardless of classification – can have access to benefits like health care and retirement plans,” said F. Vincent Vernuccio, J.D., President, Institute for the American Worker.

    Association Health Plans Act Bill Cassidy David French DOL federal labor Flex Association flexibility health insurance independent contractors Independent Retirement Fairness Act Independent Women’s Voice Jonathan Wolfson KRISTIN SHARP Labor Policy Liya Palagashvili National Retail Federation Patrice Onwuka portable benefits Rand Paul retirement benefits Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions Committee Tim Scott Wage and Hour Division worker classification workplace benefits