John,

I want to take a moment to wish you and yours a Happy Labor Day.

For some politicians, Labor Day is just another day on the campaign trail. A chance to put out a nice statement about the importance of unions, shake a few hands, and act like a workin' stiff for a day.

Not me.

I'm a proud third-generation union member, and I was walking picket lines and attending union meetings before I was old enough to vote. My dad was the President of his local fire fighters union, and my grandfather was a founding member of the Laborers union in New York. I was a union member when I worked my way through college, and now I'm a proud union mom.

Union values and solidarity with working people are foundational for my family. It's what drives me, and it's why I entered public service. It's why I fought to increase Oregon's minimum wage and pass paid sick days legislation. It's why I ran for Labor Commissioner, so I can ensure that every worker is paid what they're owed under the law - and ensure that there are consequences for employers who wantonly violate our employment laws and cheat their workers.

I'll carry those same values and that same dedication to working people to Congress. We need to raise the federal minimum wage. We need to make sure that every worker has access to comprehensive paid family and medical leave.

We need to crack down on wage theft and worker misclassification. And we need to pass the PRO Act.

The work ahead of us isn't easy, but that's OK - I'm here for this fight, and I'm honored to have you standing alongside me.

Please join me today in taking a moment to appreciate the hard work of the thousands of labor activists who sacrificed in the past, those who carry on that work today, and all of the leaders yet to come.

In Solidarity,

Val