Friend,

Around this time last year, I wrote to you all about how Labor Day had taken on a new meaning in the time of COVID-19. And while a lot has changed since then… a lot hasn’t.

Last year, we were heaping praise on our essential workers -- the grocery store clerks, nurses, teachers, public transit operators, emergency responders, and so many others who kept our communities safe and fed during the early months of the pandemic. But then, as is still true now, we failed to honor our laborers through our actions instead of just our words. As cities and towns across America tentatively reopen, our workers are still underpaid, underappreciated, and underprotected on the job -- and that must change.

As with so many issues currently facing our nation today, the pandemic didn’t create new problems for America's workers so much as it drew attention to long-existing ones. But now that we’ve had an additional year to better understand those problems -- unsafe work conditions, stagnating wages, insufficient unemployment benefits, and so much more -- we can no longer delay in addressing them.

This Labor Day and every day, I’m proud to fight for a safer, more equitable future for all of our workers, and am honored to represent America’s laborers in Congress.

Thank you and happy Labor Day,
Ted