[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H3547-H3548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     CHICAGO LIGHTHOUSE INDUSTRIES

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about an 
industry in my congressional district that is being frustrated, 
squeezed, uncertain about its future as a result of our trade policy, 
globalization and the general tenor of the times. I rise to talk about 
the Chicago Lighthouse Industries, which has made clocks for the 
Federal Government for the last 28 years. They have been consistent and 
diligent in their performance. Since 1977, the Chicago Lighthouse has 
made 3.3 million clocks. In fact, last year they made 104,000 clocks 
for all branches of the military, Energy Department, the Postal 
Service, and the Justice Department.
  The unique thing about the Chicago Lighthouse is that they employ 
more than 40 people who are blind or are visually impaired.

                              {time}  2000

  They employ their workers at a salary of $8.50 an hour and provide 
health benefits. On a recent visit to the Chicago Lighthouse, I was 
amazed at the level of detail and speed at which the workers developed 
the clocks. They have an assembly line that produces in packages 1,000 
wall clocks daily.
  In fact, Rita McCabe can assemble a 12-inch clock in less than 1 
minute. Ms. McCabe, who is blind, found her job through the Chicago 
Lighthouse. When asked how she felt about her job, she stated the 
following: ``It gives me a chance to be with people, to make a living 
on my own, and to prove that I am competent enough to do this kind of 
work.''
  Ms. McCabe has worked for the Chicago Lighthouse for 25 years. Rita 
McCabe's job is in jeopardy due to competition from foreign sources. In 
the past 4 years, U.S. imports of wall clocks, most of them from China, 
have increased by 24 percent, totaling $123 million in 2003.
  The Chicago Lighthouse does not mind competition. They have suggested 
that they can compete with anyone as long as the rules are the same. 
Unfortunately, the playing field is not level when it comes to 
competing with China and other countries that do not have a minimum-
wage requirement or pay health benefits to their workers. The Chicago 
Lighthouse pays its workers an average of $8.50 per hour plus health 
benefits. In China, it is not uncommon for workers to make $2 an hour 
and have no benefits. China is able to undercut clock manufacturers 
like the Chicago Lighthouse for the Blind because they do not play by 
the same rules. They are able to dump their products into the United 
States for a cheaper price. This adds to the trade deficit that 
currently exists.
  More importantly, to allow foreign governments who do not pay minimum 
wage or a livable wage nor provide benefits to continue to undercut 
U.S. companies like the Chicago Lighthouse erodes the faith that 
citizens have in government and puts many jobs here at home at risk. 
The Chicago Lighthouse is not asking for preferential treatment. They 
are seeking fundamental fairness. The Lighthouse has been in existence 
now for 99 years, and they have done something right to be able to 
survive for so long.
  The Federal Government, as a result of the Javitz-Wagner-O'Day Act, 
is required to show favor towards the Chicago Lighthouse and other 
organizations like it when purchasing clocks through the General 
Services Administration. However, this law has been eroded and many 
Federal purchases are going for the lower-priced clocks. Obviously, 
these are the clocks that are being produced through cheaper labor 
costs. The Federal Government must set the example and ensure that 
taxpayer money is not going to support foreign governments that do not 
have minimum wage or benefit standards comparable to those in the 
United States.
  Everything comes at a price. The workers at Chicago Lighthouse are 
able to be productive tax-paying citizens because of their jobs. These 
jobs help to support them, their families, and the local economy. For 
example, Mr. Albert Harris has been with the Chicago Lighthouse since 
1971, able to work, though blind.
  Mr. Speaker, the Chicago Lighthouse and other entities that employ 
our people must be able to continue to do so. Let us make sure that our 
trade policies are fair and equitable and that

[[Page H3548]]

they can compete on an even keel, on an even playing field.

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