[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 82 (Thursday, June 10, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 2119--``THE YOUNG AMERICAN WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS 
                                 ACT''

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 10, 1999

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today I introduced comprehensive domestic 
child labor reform legislation--H.R. 2119, ``The Young American 
Workers' Bill of Rights Act.'' I am delighted to report that this 
legislation has been cosponsored by 57 other Members of the Congress, 
including my distinguished fellow Californian, Congressman Tom Campbell 
of San Jose, and our distinguished colleague, Congressman John Porter 
of Illinois, who is Co-Chairman with me of the Congressional Human 
Rights Caucus.
  It is a shocking fact, Mr. Speaker, that the occupational injury rate 
for children and teens in this country is more than twice as high as it 
is for adults. A young person is killed on the job in this country 
every five days. A young worker is injured on the job every 40 seconds. 
These deaths and these injuries to our nation's children are totally 
unacceptable.
  Mr. Speaker, as America prepares to enter the 21st Century, we must 
ensure that our children work under safe conditions. We must ensure 
that the work available to them does not limit their educational 
opportunities, but helps them achieve healthy and productive lives. The 
Young American Workers' Bill of Rights will help to make certain that 
job opportunities available to our young people are safer and do not 
interfere with their education.
  Unfortunately, the exploitation of child labor in our country is not 
a thing of the past. It is a national problem that continues to 
jeopardize the health, education, and lives of many of our nation's 
children and teenagers. In farm fields and in fast-food restaurants all 
over this country, employers are breaking the law by hiring under-age 
children. Many of these youth put in long, hard hours and often work 
under dangerous conditions. Our legislation seeks to eliminate the all-
too-common exploitation of children--working long hours late into the 
night while school is in session, and working under hazardous 
conditions.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2119--The ``Young American Workers' Bill of Rights 
Act''--addresses two major aspects of child labor: the deaths and 
serious injuries suffered by our young workers and the negative impact 
which working excessive hours during school can have on a child's 
education.
  The legislation establishes new, tougher penalties for willful 
violations of child labor laws that result in the death or serious 
bodily injury to a child. Not only does the bill increase fines and 
prison sentences for such willful violation of our laws, but it will 
assure that the names of child labor law violators are publicized. 
Nothing will deter corporate giants more than negative publicity, and 
bad press is one of the few effective sanctions that are available to 
us.
  Mr. Speaker, our legislation also increases protection for children 
under the age of 14 who are migrant or seasonal workers in agriculture. 
Current labor laws allow children--even those under 10 years of age--to 
be employed in agriculture. Farm worker children can work unlimited 
hours before and after school, and they are not even eligible for 
overtime pay. At the age of 14, or even earlier, children working in 
agriculture can use knives and machetes, operate dangerous machinery, 
and be exposed to toxic pesticides. In no other industry are children 
so exploited as they are in agriculture.
  H.R. 2119 also requires better record keeping and reporting of child 
labor violations, prohibits minors from operating or cleaning certain 
types of unsafe equipment, and prohibits children from working in 
certain particularly hazardous occupations.
  Mr. Speaker, our legislation will reduce the problem of children 
working long hours when school is in session, and it strengthens 
existing limitations on the number of hours children under 18 years of 
age can work on school days. The bill would eliminate all youth labor 
before school, and after-school work would be limited to 15 or 20 hours 
per week, depending on the age of the child. This is important, Mr. 
Speaker, because the more hours children work during the school year, 
the more likely they are to take easier courses, and the more likely 
they are to do poorly in their studies. Studies have shown that 
children who work long hours also tend to use more alcohol and drugs.
  Mr. Speaker, too many teenagers are working long hours at the very 
time that they should be focusing on their education. It is important 
for children to learn the value of work, but education, not minimum-
wage jobs, are the key to these young people's future. Our legislation 
is an important step in focusing attention back upon education.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join as cosponsors of this 
legislation. The future of our nation depends upon the strength of our 
young people. It is important that we assure a safe place to work and 
that we be certain that work not interfere with education.

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