[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S10525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. MOYNIHAN (for himself and Mr. D'Amato):
  S. 2495. A bill to establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site 
in the State of New York, and for other purposes; to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources.


              the kate mullany national historic site act

 Mr. MOYNIHAN. Mr. President, it is with great pride, with my 
distinguished colleague Senator D'Amato, I introduce the ``Kate Mullany 
Historic Site Act,'' a bill to designate the Troy, New York home of 
pioneer labor organizer Kate Mullany as a National Historic Site. A 
similar measure introduced in the House of Representatives this year by 
Congressman Michael R. McNulty has engendered a great deal of support 
and cosponsorship by over 100 members.
  Like many Irish immigrants settling in Troy, Kate Mullany found her 
opportunities limited to the most difficult and low-paying of jobs, the 
collar laundry industry. Troy was then known as ``The Collar City''--
the birthplace of the detachable shirt collar. At the age of 19, Kate 
stood up against the often dangerous conditions and meager pay that 
characterized the industry and lead a movement of 200 female 
laundresses demanding just compensation and safe working conditions. 
These protests marked the beginning of the Collar Laundry Union, which 
some have called ``the only bona fide female labor union in the 
country.''
  Kate Mullany's courage and organizing skills did not go unnoticed. 
She later traveled down the Hudson River to lead women workers in the 
sweatshops of New York City and was ultimately appointed Assistant 
Secretary of the then National Labor Union, becoming the first women 
ever appointed to a national labor office.
  On April 1, 1998, Kate Mullany's home was designated as a National 
Historic Landmark by Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt and on 
July 15 First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton presented citizens of Troy 
with the National Historic Landmark plaque in a celebration. Given the 
recent attention to the contributions of Kate Mullany, I am quite 
pleased to introduce this bill with my colleague Senator D'Amato 
today.
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