[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 100 (Thursday, July 7, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, July 7, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, 76 years ago, President Franklin D. 
Roosevelt signed into law the National Labor Relations Act, which 
continues to protect the rights of employees and employers, encourages 
fair bargaining, and blocks harmful practices that hurt our Nation's 
workers, businesses and the economy.
  This important piece of legislation in our Nation's history has 
allowed working Americans to enjoy their rights to assemble and 
organize into labor unions. Unions have been instrumental in 
strengthening the middle class. Leaders like AFL-CIO President Dennis 
Hughes, DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts, Teamsters Local 237 
President Gregory Floyd. SEIU Local 1199 President George Gresham and 
SEIU 32BJ President Mike Fishman, and AFT and UFT Presidents Randi 
Weingarten and Michael Mulgrew have all marched in the spirit of A. 
Philip Randolph and Thomas Van Arsdale to protect the civil rights of 
all Americans in the workplace and I stand by my fellow soldiers in our 
continued struggle to preserve the Labor Movement and all the victories 
fought and won.
  With the recent change of rules enacted by the National Labor 
Relations Board, working Americans will be able to quickly unionize and 
cut the time businesses have to mount anti-union campaigns. There is 
still more to do for our workers. That is why I co-sponsored the 
Employee Non-Discrimination Act which prohibits discrimination based on 
sexual orientation and gender in the workforce. I will keep on 
supporting other bills that ensure labor rights and will work hand in 
hand with union leaders to create an equal partnership in revitalizing 
our economy.''

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