[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H5304]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN TO ATTACK WORKING AMERICANS, LABOR UNIONS, AND THE 
                          DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

  (Mr. CLAY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CLAY. Mr. Speaker, I am appalled that the Republican majority has 
hijacked $1.4 million of public funds to pursue a devious, fully 
orchestrated campaign to attack working Americans, labor unions, and 
the Department of Labor. The Republicans are going to spend $1.4 
million of tax money to intimidate labor leaders, harass the Department 
of Labor, and attempt to repeal labor laws that have protected the 
rights of workers for over a half a century.
  This plot was never discussed in a public hearing of the Committee on 
Education and the Workforce, and it was approved by the House oversight 
committee without any witnesses testifying to its need. Although the 
majority is trying to dress up their mission statement, the real 
attempt is to pursue an extremist antiunion agenda. The Republicans are 
scheming to attack union members as payback for labor union 
participation in the 1996 elections. This $1.4 million ill-advised use 
of taxpayer dollars is aimed at diminishing worker protections under 
OSHA, the National Labor Relations Act, and the Davis-Bacon Act; mind 
you, all at taxpayers' expense.

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