What They Are Saying About the Modern Worker Empowerment Act

Since U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) announced the Modern Worker Empowerment Act as a part of a package focused on giving independent contractors greater flexibility and benefits earlier this month, key national and South Carolina organizations have come out in support of passage of the bill. 

“For decades, our laws have treated flexible work like a fallback, not a choice. Millions are building careers on their own terms—and they deserve benefits and protections that follow the worker, not the job. This legislation is a necessary step toward a future of work that actually reflects how people work today and creates more certainty for innovative companies looking to harness technology to democratize access to work.

We commend Senators Scott, Cassidy, and Paul for advancing legislation that acknowledges the dignity of all work and helps create a more inclusive, responsive economy. This is where the future of work is headed—and policy should meet it there.” 

– Regan Parker, Chief Legal and Public Affairs Officer, ShiftKey

“Under the previous administration, truck drivers’ freedom came under fire when the Department of Labor published a rule that made it more difficult to operate independently, despite our home state of South Carolina’s clear language in this regard. We applaud Senator Scott for standing up for the rights of trucking entrepreneurs whose livelihoods were put in jeopardy.  His legislation will protect the integrity of our interstate supply chain and ensure that South Carolina truckers who choose to work as independent contractors will be able to continue to run their own small businesses and control their own hours and routes.”

– Rick Todd, President & CEO, South Carolina Trucking Association 

“The independent truckers who have spent years or even decades building their own small businesses deserve commonsense regulations that ensure their livelihoods will not be uprooted. Senator Scott has been a champion of the more than 350,000 Americans in trucking who chose this entrepreneurial pathway because of the economic opportunity it creates and the flexibility it provides.  ATA strongly supports his legislation to protect independent truckers, and we will continue to work alongside him and other Members of Congress to defend Americans’ right to earn a living in the manner that they choose.” 

– Henry Hanscom, SVP of Legislative Affairs, American Trucking Associations 

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