[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 14, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E363]]
  INTRODUCTION OF YOUNG AMERICAN WORKERS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT--H.R. 961

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 14, 2001

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, last week, with the support of 48 of our 
colleagues, I introduced comprehensive domestic child labor law 
reform--H.R. 961, The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act. This 
much-needed legislation will provide greater protection for American 
children in the workplace. The unfortunate exploitation of child labor 
in America is not a thing of the past. It is a problem that continues 
to threaten the welfare and education of millions of American young 
people. Unless we swiftly enact this important legislation, children 
will continue to be employed in jobs that place their lives in danger, 
and students will continue to struggle with the competing interests of 
holding a job and gaining an education at a time when education should 
be ``priority number one''. I urge my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this important legislation.
  The exploitation of child labor 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, I am saddened to report that in this country, a young 
person is killed on the job every five days. Every 40 seconds a child 
is injured on the job. It is appalling to learn that the occupational 
injury rate for children and teens is more than twice as high than it 
is for adults. These statistics are a national disgrace. It is totally 
unacceptable for a civilized, advanced society such as ours to have our 
children injured and killed on the job.
  Mr. Speaker, The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act would 
establish 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 willful 
violation of our laws, but it will also assure that the names of child 
labor law violators are publicized. Nothing will deter corporate giants 
more than negative publicity. Negative publicity is one of the most 
effective tools we have to change corporate behavior.
  While people often associate the evils of child labor with Third 
World countries, American children and teenagers are also exploited on 
the job. Our economy has changed significantly since the days when 
teenagers held after school jobs at the ``Mom and Pop'' grocery store 
or soda shop on the corner. In today's low unemployment economy, 
teenagers are hired to fill-in or replace jobs previously held by 
adults in full-time positions. They work in franchise fast food 
restaurants and national supermarket chains.
  Many high-school students are working 30 to 40 hours a week, and they 
often work well past midnight. Research shows that long hours on the 
job take away time needed for schoolwork or family and extracurricular 
activities. The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act sets limits 
on the amount of time students can work during the school year. This is 
important Mr. Speaker, because studies show that the more hours 
children work during the school year, the more likely they are to do 
poorly academically. Studies have also shown that children who work 
long hours also tend to use more alcohol and drugs.
  Mr. Speaker, The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act 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. After-school work would be 
limited to 15 or 20 hours per week, depending on the age of the child. 
Additionally our legislation will require better record keeping and 
reporting of child labor violations. It also prohibits minors from 
operating or cleaning certain types of dangerous equipment, and 
prohibits children from working under certain particularly hazardous 
conditions.
  Children working early in the morning before school or working late 
into the evening on days when school is in session is a serious problem 
facing our country. Recently, I met with students from Aragon High 
School of San Mateo, California, in my Congressional district. After 
talking about The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act to these 
students, who were visiting our nation's capitol, the students spoke up 
and voiced their concerns about being required to work past 11 or later 
on school nights. Every one of these students spoke in favor of 
enacting The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act.
  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. Child farm laborers 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 are using knives and machetes, operate dangerous machinery, 
and are exposed to dangerous toxic pesticides. In no other industry in 
this nation are children so exploited as they are in agriculture. These 
are not children working on family farms, these are children working 
for agribusiness, these are children exploited by agribusiness.
  I want to make it adamantly clear that as supporters of child labor 
reform we do not oppose young people working. I firmly believe that 
children must be taught the value of work. They need to learn the 
important lessons of responsibility, and they need to enjoy the rewards 
of working. It is not our aim to discourage employers from hiring young 
people. Rather, our goal is to ensure that the job opportunities 
available to young people are meaningful, safe and healthy and do not 
interfere with their important school responsibilities.
  Mr. Speaker, let me state unequivocally that we do not oppose 
children taking on after-school employment. What we oppose are the 
senseless deaths and needless injuries of our teenagers. We oppose the 
negative effects on academic achievement that result when children work 
excessive hours while school is in session. A solid education--not 
after-school employment--is the key to a successful future.
  I ask my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in 
cosponsoring The Young American Workers' Bill of Rights Act. I urge 
swift enactment of meaningful child labor law reform legislation during 
this Congress.

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