[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 125 (Thursday, September 23, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1941]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       FRIEDMAN BAG COMPANY CELEBRATES OVER 70 YEARS OF OPERATION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LUCILLE ROYBAL-ALLARD

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 23, 1999

  Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate the 
Friedman Bag Company for over 70 years of continuous operation in my 
congressional district and to highlight its leadership as a responsible 
corporate citizen.
  In 1927, four Russian immigrant brothers started a small bag 
manufacturing company in the heart of Los Angeles. Sam, Saul, Harry and 
Morris Friedman fled Imperial Russia with their family in search of 
freedom, settling temporarily in Mexico until they were granted 
permission to enter the United States. Over the years, Friedman Bag 
Company grew almost as quickly as the city around it.
  In many ways, the founding and growth of Friedman Bag Company 
personifies our nation's immigrant experience. The company was born 
from an immigrant family's dream to provide their children with a 
better life. The Friedmans succeeded, eventually becoming one of the 
largest suppliers of textile and polyethylene bags in the West. Their 
bags were primarily used for agriculture products such as Idaho 
potatoes, walnuts and other crops such as carrots and lettuce from the 
Central Valley of California.
  But like many manufacturing companies in the United States, fierce 
competition from lower cost producers, in countries like China, 
eventually threatened the survival of Friedman Bag Company. To endure, 
the company needed to change and adapt to the new economy, and the 
successful effort was lead by two sons of the founding members.
  Friedman Bag Company desperately needed to invest money in new 
equipment. Company workers were still sewing burlap and mesh bags by 
hand. Morale and sales were suffering. Having never taken on debt 
financing in its history, the company embarked on a somewhat radical 
and risky venture to make sure it could remain competitive. Working 
with a financial institution that recognized its special history as a 
family business, and overcoming internal and external challenges, 
Friedman Bag Company secured the resources to continue its operations 
in the 33rd Congressional District.
  Friedman Bag Company also worked with the Mayor and City Council to 
consolidate operations, ultimately bringing more jobs to Los Angeles.
  Today, Friedman Bag Company employs more than 250 people, with 
operations in Idaho, Washington and Oregon. The company's morale has 
soared as its future prospects have brightened. Friedman Bag Company is 
now firmly positioned so a third generation of the Friedman family can 
continue the dream started by their family's ancestors.
  I am proud of Friedman Bag Company's long tenure in southeast Los 
Angeles. Their efforts to modernize and adapt to an ever-changing 
economy in order to stay competitive are to be commended. Many men and 
women in my congressional district have worked at Friedman Bag Company, 
supporting their families and contributing to our community. I 
congratulate Friedman Bag Company for over 70 years of success which 
has epitomized the contributions to America made by our immigrant 
community, and I wish them many more years of successful operation to 
come.

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