[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 93 (Monday, June 11, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 THE CHILD LABOR PROTECTION ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. LYNN C. WOOLSEY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2007

  Ms. WOOLSEY. Madam Speaker, the Child Labor Protection Act of 2007 is 
a narrowly drafted bipartisan bill that amends the Fair Labor Standards 
Act, FLSA, to increase civil penalties for those who violated child 
labor provisions. Specifically, it would: Increase penalties from 
$11,000 to $50,000 for violations that cause death or serious injury; 
provide that the penalty can be doubled when the violation causing 
death or serious injury is repeated or willful; and provide that the 
$50,000 penalty can be assessed for each violation.
  This legislation does not make the impositions of penalties 
mandatory--whether or not to assess a penalty is still discretionary 
with the Secretary of Labor--but it would provide the Department of 
Labor with a much needed enforcement tool to address the most serious 
child labor violations, deter repeat occurrences and further strengthen 
its enforcement of laws that protect children.
  There is much that must be done to strengthen our child labor laws, 
and this bill is the foundation for future action that I hope my 
Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the Committee on Education and 
Labor will take on these issues.

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