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"I am pleased to be participating in the White House Summit on Worker Voice today. President Obama should be commended for initiating a much-needed conversation with workers, employers, unions, advocates and others who are speaking up in their communities to ensure that hard-working Americans receive the benefits they deserve and that their labor rights are protected.

This weekend, President Obama announced proposals to strengthen the unemployment insurance (UI) system and create wage insurance programs-policies that stand to benefit millions of unemployed and underemployed Floridians.

Today we commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., an American hero whose voice, vision, and legacy of leadership continue to influence the course of American history. Dr. King on occasion sacrificed his freedom and ultimately his life to ensure that all Americans are treated equally, and given the opportunity to participate fully in society and realize their dreams.

The U.S. Department of Labor recently announced a funding opportunity that would enable incarcerated individuals to access the services and supports they need to secure jobs upon their release. Under the department's Linking to Employment Activities Pre-Release (LEAP) initiative, local workforce development boards may apply for one of ten $500,000 grants to place these vital services in correctional facilities.

Today, the Brookings Institution released a paper that ranks Miami, Florida, among the top ten U.S. cities with the highest levels of income inequality. Since 2007, Miami, much like other major cities, has experienced increased levels of income inequality due to marked declines in household incomes in the bottom 20th percentile in the past seven years.

Six years ago, Haiti was literally rocked to its core by an earthquake that claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, displaced more than one million people and destroyed much of the nation's capital. The courage the Haitian people have displayed in the face of this and other adversities is truly admirable, but many obstacles remain on the path to recovery. Milestones like today's underscore why the upcoming election is so important. Haiti needs to complete its looming political agenda, which includes the election of a new president. The entire international community is watching.

Today marks the anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, the first piece of legislation that President Obama signed when he took office. Seven years later, however, equal pay has still not been achieved. Last year, women who worked fulltime earn just 79 cents for every dollar earned by men. African-American and Hispanic women earn 60 and 50 cents, respectively, per every dollar earned by white men.