[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 65 (Friday, May 10, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E773]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       EVERY WORKER DESERVES EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER OUR LABOR LAWS

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                         HON. THOMAS M. BARRETT

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 10, 1996

  Mr. BARRETT of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, during the debate on H.R. 
2406, the Housing Act of 1996, I had planned to introduce an amendment 
to improve the labor standards section of the bill. Specifically, my 
amendment proposed to delete the section of the bill which exempts 
residents of public housing from the labor protections provided in the 
bill.
  H.R. 2406 includes provisions that would require that the prevailing 
wage be paid to all contractors, laborers, and mechanics employed by a 
local housing authority. The bill, however, exempts residents of public 
housing, such as nonunion maintenance workers, from these important 
labor protections.
  Why should workers at the same worksite, living in the same 
community, doing the same job make less than their fellow workers? We 
should not be penalizing American citizens because they happen to live 
in public or assisted housing.
  Furthermore, paying public housing residents less than the prevailing 
wage for identical work would limit the income of those who are 
employed by local housing authorities, thus also reducing their 
contribution to the project.
  Chairman Lazio has indeed made some very constructive changes in the 
manager's amendment including adding language that would protect 
residents who are members of a labor union. But, these changes don't go 
far enough.
  Although I decided to withdraw my amendment, I intend to work 
diligently with other members of the House Banking Committee to improve 
this bill so that every worker employed by a local housing authority is 
granted equal rights under the labor standards section. I encourage my 
colleagues in the House to support me in this effort.

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