[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 105 (Wednesday, July 17, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H7662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       SWEATSHOP PRODUCT BAN ACT

  (Mr. UNDERWOOD asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, today I plan on introducing the Sweatshop 
Product Ban Act, which I have dubbed the ``No Sweatshops Where GI's 
Shop Act.''
  Through defense commissary and exchange stores, the Department of 
Defense exercises a purchasing power of well over $9 billion. However, 
there is nothing in law that prohibits one of the largest retailers in 
the Nation from purchasing goods manufactured under inhumane 
conditions. This bill would specifically prevent the commissary and 
exchange stores from inadvertently supporting child labor, prison 
labor, or goods produced under human rights violations. It would also 
come closer to insuring that our GI's around the world do not sport any 
products produced by children who work under deplorable conditions, 14 
hours a day.
  Congress can encourage private industry to police themselves by 
allowing companies to have access to these minimum labor standards. 
Corporations such as J.C. Penny and Levi Strauss have already agreed to 
monitor their contractors as publication of potential violations by 
these retailers pose a threat to sales. My bill would take it a step 
further: As consumers, the Defense commissary and exchange stores can 
take the lead and influence corporations to adopt better labor 
practices through the power of their purse.
  I urge my colleagues to cosponsor the Sweatshop Product Ban Act.

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