La Isla Network (LIN) strongly supports recent actions by over 70 Democratic lawmakers urging the House Committee on Appropriations to restore funding to the Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) at the U.S. Department of Labor.
ILAB is a pivotal agency ensuring equitable labor conditions within international trade agreements. LIN’s project PREP for Change — an initiative dedicated to advancing fair labor standards for American workers and mitigating migration pressures from Central America — was funded by ILAB but faces premature closure due to recent funding cuts by DOGE.
“ILAB’s mission is vital to American workers and industry,” said Jason Glaser, CEO of La Isla Network. “We applaud these congressional efforts to restore fair trade conditions that benefit both workers and American businesses. Historically, ILAB’s mission has enjoyed bipartisan support, and we strongly advocate for renewed bipartisan cooperation to reinstate funding.”
The push to reinstate ILAB comes amid broader scrutiny of U.S. trade policy, highlighted by a recent federal court ruling against the Trump administration’s unilateral tariff impositions. This underscores the necessity for stable institutions like ILAB to facilitate fair and competitive trade agreements.
“We hope bipartisan support continues to grow,” added Glaser. “ILAB’s role is crucial for negotiating just and competitive trade deals, and LIN remains committed to providing data-driven insights to ensure effective labor standards globally and at home in the U.S.”
La Isla Network is a health research and advisory organization dedicated to ending heat-related injury, illness and death among workers worldwide. We develop data-driven worker protection interventions and conduct management of change, improving the resiliency of workforces and businesses to heat exposure. LIN drives lasting change by working with governments and multilateral institutions to inform and create policy. For more information please use our contact form.
