on bipartisan boards and commissions like the nlrb, this used to be the tradition. the president's party always enjoys a majority on these boards. but it's crucial for the opposite party, whoever it is at the time, to have their recommendations approved to these bipartisan boards. unfortunately, the vote comes today after more than two years during which the republican majority refused to even schedule a vote on a democratic nominee to the nlrb mark pierce. the republicans waited so long that both democratic nominees that were already on the nlrb had their terms expire. so while democrats look forward to confirming lauren mcferran to the nlrb later today, we are still frustrated, frustrated that the republican majority denied any democratic representation on the board for too long. and they continue to deny a vote on the second democratic seat. i yield the floor. mr. thune: madam president? the presiding officer: the majority whip. mr. thune: is the senate in a quorum call? the presiding officer: we're not. mr. thune: madam president, i intend to talk about section

with theirs, along friends at the department of labor and the nlrb, are seizing to curve themics responsibility to provide their workers with a basic wage and collective rights. by denying these rules, we are ensuring franchisees are covered by the federal labor standards act and the nlra. these rules interfere with these protections. what we are doing is we're toing protections back workers. i urge my colleagues to oppose the amendment. >> mr. cole is recognized. >> the provisions added to this bill would prohibit the department of labor and the national labor relations board from implementing new joint employer regulations. are afterlations years of back and forth litigation for the purposes of labor law enforcement. reading nationwide uncertainty a time when businesses are struggling to -- creating nationwide uncertainty during a time when businesses are struggling to reopen. these rules impact franchise businesses in particular. the franchise business model has been successful for decades and led to the creation of thousands of small businesses and millions of jobs. andeed to reduce red tap