[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 119 (Friday, July 21, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1488]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                    FREEDOM FROM UNION VIOLENCE ACT

                                 ______


                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 21, 1995
  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, over the last several years, we in the House 
have devoted a great deal of attention to the issue of crime in the 
United States, and have passed several anticrime bills. While we have 
not always agreed on the proper methods to reduce crime in America, 
Members of this body have unanimously condemned acts of violence.
  To me, therefore, it is inconceivable that this Congress has not 
moved to outlaw certain acts of violence that have been protected by 
the Supreme Court since 1973. That year, the Court ruled in its Enmons 
decision that union officials were exempt from prosecution for acts of 
violence, if they were used to gain legitimate union objectives. The 
Enmons decision severely restricted the scope of the 1946 Hobbs Anti-
Extortion Act. The Hobbs Act was enacted primarily to quell violence 
and extortion by union members and officials as they enforced 
compulsory union membership. By exempting union officials from the 
Hobbs Act, the High Court effectively sanctioned these acts of 
violence.
  The results of this decision have been devastating. Since 1973, union 
violence resulted in 181 murders, 440 assaults, and more than 6,000 
acts of vandalism. In fact, from 1975 to 1993, there were more than 
7,800 acts of documented union violence. I believe that this violence 
must stop.
  On June 8, 1995, I introduced H.R. 1796, the Freedom From Union 
Violence Act. H.R. 1796 would restore the original intent of the Hobbs 
Act to allow Federal authorities to prosecute union officials accused 
of violence or extortion in violation of the Hobbs Act. The author of 
the Hobbs Act, Representative Samuel Hobbs, stated, ``that crime is 
crime * * *, whether or not the perpetrator has a union card.'' I agree 
with Mr. Hobbs, and I believe that, regardless of one's views on labor 
issues, the House can agree that violence is wrong and ought to be 
condemned. Lady Justice, after all, is blindfolded--she should not be 
peeking to ask for union credentials.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.
  

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