By John Walk, Kilpatrick Stockton Senior Government Relations Advisor

The House Committee on Education and Labor favorably reported H.R. 800, the Employee Free Choice Act to the full House of Representative for consideration and final passage. As expected, the legislation easily cleared the Committee on a vote of 26 – 19. While  13 amendments were offered by House Republicans, none received a majority of votes. H.R. 800 will be considered by the House with no substantive changes from the original version introduced on February 5. At this juncture, the bill is expected to be brought up on the House floor during the week of February 26.

Republican opponents of the legislation tried very hard to curtail the language of the legislation. Most of the message focused on the need to protect the current secret ballot process. However, there was no doubt among panel Members that the legislation would easily pass the House. At the same time, the specter of a Presidential veto hung over the proceedings which seems likely should the bill get to the President’s desk.

John Walk is a Senior Government Relations Advisor in Kilpatrick Stockton’s Washington, DC office. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Walk worked for six years in the U.S. House of Representatives for Members on the exclusive Rules and Ways and Means Committees. Mr. Walk served as an aide in the offices of Representative Xavier Becerra (D-CA), former Representative Tony Hall (D-OH), and Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).