[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 23, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H4973]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           ENSURING FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY

  (Mr. VENTO asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, a strong labor movement helps all Americans. 
It is our job as elected leaders to ensure that national and state laws 
allow our constituents to enjoy the fundamental values of democracy, 
freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.
  That includes under the law and custom the long-honored right of 
workers to have a voice in wages and working conditions under which 
they labor. When workers are denied that voice, they no longer share in 
the wealth that they create. Health workers cannot afford to be treated 
at the clinics and hospitals at which they labor and autoworkers cannot 
afford to buy and drive the cars they make.
  Congress needs to show support beyond voting positively upon labor 
issues. We can use our leverage and our role to help ensure that the 
rights and interests of American workers, the labor force, are 
advanced, that working families are accorded dignity and respect that 
indeed they deserve.
  Moreover, we have the obligation to make sure that employers' 
policies and laws that shape this relationship are just and workable. 
Workers have a right to fully participate in the political arena. 
However, today, the political voice of labor and working families face 
the prospect of being silenced.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope today we will listen to the voice of workers, as 
today they are speaking up for the rights they need and merit to 
participate in the free enterprise economy and gain a just reward for 
their labors.

                          ____________________