Onwuka’s full testimony can be found HERE once the hearing begins.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Independent Women today announced that Patrice Onwuka, director of Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity will testify before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about the importance of protecting worker choice and flexibility for independent contractors.
The hearing, titled, “Freedom to Work: Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers” will begin at 10:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, July 17.
Onwuka’s message is clear: millions of Americans depend on the freedom to work on their own terms, and Congress must protect—not restrict—that right for America’s quickly growing independent workforce.
In her testimony, Onwuka writes, in part:
“Our national policies must be updated to accommodate the needs of our dynamic economy as it generates new models of work. No worker should be forced into a traditional 9-to-5 job. She should be able to work as she chooses while enjoying greater economic security.
“Policymakers have an opportunity to harmonize the independent contractor definition across federal law and agencies to protect flexible work arrangements and to unlock portable benefits for independent workers without triggering their reclassification.”
Onwuka will address:
- How Congress can respond to the growing need for flexibility in the workplace especially for women, caregivers, and other independent contractors;
- Why independent contractors are at a disadvantage because of laws prohibiting companies from offering employer-based benefits to independent contractors—such as healthcare, paid time off, and disability, and
- The importance of protecting independent contractor portable benefits through the Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers Act and the Modern Worker Security Act as well as clarifying workers classification under the Modern Worker Empowerment Act.
During her testimony, Onwuka will call upon Congress to unify the independent contractor definition across federal law and protect flexible work arrangements by:
- Avoiding mass reclassification of workers through stringent employment tests;
- Clearing the way for portable benefits by creating a safe harbor so that organizations or companies can offer benefits to independent contractors without triggering misclassification; and
- Harmonizing the independent contractor definition across federal agencies with a clear and simple test, such as the standard implemented by the Department of Labor at the start of 2021, to provide greater clarity on worker classification and certainty for independent workers.
Details:
WHAT: United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions “Freedom to Work: Unlocking Benefits for Independent Workers”
WHEN: Thursday, July 17, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. EDT
WHERE: 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Media inquiries: [email protected]
Onwuka’s full testimony will be available HERE after the hearing.
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Independent Women’s Forum is dedicated to developing and advancing policies that aren’t just well intended but actually enhance people’s freedom, choices, and opportunities.
Independent Women’s Forum’s Center for Economic Opportunity (CEO) aims to educate the public about how government policies impact people’s opportunities for economic development and upward mobility.
