House and Senate Republicans have introduced a pair of identical bills in the hopes of passing right-to-work on the national level.

Sen. Rand Paul introduced the legislation on the Senate side while Rep. Steve King introduced it on the House side. Under such a law, employees could not be forced into a labor union as a condition of employment. The idea, which has passed in 24 states, is despised by labor unions and other left-leaning organizations.

“Every American and their employer should have the power to negotiate the terms of their employment, and no American should be forced to pay union dues just to get or keep a job,” King declared in a statement.

“However, when Congress enacted the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, it established the concept of ‘monopoly bargaining,’ which forces workers who want nothing to do with a union into paying union dues and abiding by the union’s rules and contracts,” King added.

The purpose of the bill is “To preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities.”

Greg Mourad, vice president of the National Right to Work Committee, is optimistic of the legislation passing the House but is concerned it won’t make it through the Senate because it will need Democrat support.

“We need five Democrats,” Mourad told The Daily Caller News Foundation. “The odds are pretty long of getting any of them.”

Mourad notes that even if it does pass the Senate, the president will most certainly veto it. Even if it doesn’t pass, the legislation will still require a roll call from members of the Senate. This, Mourad argues, will allow voters to hold politicians accountable for how they reacted to the legislation.

“This is not an issue that is going away,” Mourad added. “It’s a fundamental freedom issue.”

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