[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 18, 2001)]
[House]
[Page H10176]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LIVABLE COMMUNITIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 3, 2001, the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) is 
recognized during morning hour debates for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, I came to Congress dedicated to making 
the Federal Government a better partner with our communities, our 
business leaders, and our individual corporations to make sure that our 
communities are more livable, where our families are safe, healthy and 
more economically secure.
  For over a century now, organized labor has been a champion of these 
same goals for families by defending the right to organize and 
represent themselves by being very active in public policy discussions 
and the enactment of protective legislation. Last week, in Las Vegas, 
the national AFL-CIO added their strong voice to achieving their goals 
for America's working families by promoting the principles of livable 
communities. It noted that the problems of both society and their 
members are compounded when our communities are abandoned. Cities are 
hollowed out by sprawl and the consequences of unmanaged growth. It is 
harder to travel, find decent affordable housing, it is harder for 
children to breathe, and even workers to organize.
  Their important resolution was advanced by progressive unions like 
the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Amalgamated Transit Union, 
the good work of Jobs First, with their staff member, Greg LeRoy.
  I would note three important provisions in that resolution where they 
point out; whereas sprawling development on urban fringes creates new 
jobs beyond public transit grids, leaving consumers with no choice 
about how to get to work and undermines transit ridership; and whereas 
many other central labor bodies and State federations have long 
advocated for policies now collectively called ``smart growth,'' such 
as affordable housing, better public transit, school rehabilitation, 
and the reclamation of brownfields; now, therefore be it resolved, that 
the AFL-CIO authorize and directs its leadership to actively engage in 
the emerging public and political debates surrounding urban sprawl and 
smart growth, asserting labor's rightful role in the national debate 
about the future of America's cities for the benefit of all working 
families. Powerful words from a powerful organization dedicated to 
promoting America's families.
  I would note the special leadership of the regional labor leaders, 
people like Don Turner, the President of the Chicago Federation of 
Labor, that has been active with the Metropolitan Metropolis 2020, an 
organization in Metropolitan Chicago that brings together the community 
organizing for their future; John Dalrymple, the executive secretary-
treasurer of the Contra Costa County Central Labor Council, where 
organized labor has been a vital force in Silicon Valley's efforts to 
come to grips with the livability of that fast growing area; and John 
Ryan, the executive secretary of the Cleveland Federation of Labor, 
where in Cleveland they have been part of a coalition with the Catholic 
Archdiocese of Cleveland, reaching out to communities around Ohio.
  Mr. Speaker, these are leaders of vision, people who know that smart 
growth is not the same as no growth; leaders who know that dumb growth 
can be too expensive and choke long-term prosperity; and that in 
working together business, citizens, and organized labor, we can truly 
make our communities more livable where our families are safe, healthy, 
and more economically secure.

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