[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 85 (Friday, June 14, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E875-E876]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                       HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 13, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1960) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2014 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Madam Chair, I rise in support of the Schakowsky/
Miller amendment, included in this en bloc. I want to thank the 
Chairman and the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee for 
including this amendment.
  Last November, the world was shocked by a horrific fire at 
Bangladesh's Tazreen Fashions garment factory. 112 workers were killed 
in the blaze; survivors recounted terrifying conditions, including 
locked exits and workers forced to jump from 4th story windows.
  The Tazreen fire is far from an isolated incident. Many of 
Bangladesh's 4 million garment workers--most of whom are women--risk 
their lives every day they go to work in extremely unsafe factories. 
While governments and corporations alike have spoken of their 
dedication to improving conditions and protecting workers rights, the 
fact remains that many Bangladeshi garment factories are literally 
death traps.
  In the rubble of the Tazreen fire, activists found evidence 
suggesting that, among other apparel, the factory produced products 
with Marine insignias. Photographs taken in the ashes of Tazreen show 
patterns and orders for sweatshirts and pants with the Marine Corps 
logo, the motto ``Semper Fi,'' and even the tagline ``The Few. The 
Proud.''
  According to public data, the Army-Air Force Exchange imported some 
124,000 pounds of garments last year from factories in Bangladesh.
  Mr. Speaker, apparel made for our brave men and women in uniform 
should not be made in needlessly dangerous factories. Workers making 
clothing for our military exchanges shouldn't face daily threats of 
deadly fire, building collapse, and other preventable tragedies. They 
shouldn't be fired for refusing to work in unsafe conditions, nor 
should they be denied basic, internationally-recognized worker rights.
  The Schakowsky/Miller would require that garments made in Bangladesh 
and sold at DoD base retail stores and exchanges comply with an 
enforceable fire and building safety accord. Specifically, the 
amendment would help the United States government save lives in 
Bangladesh by requiring that military exchanges which sell their own 
branded garments made in Bangladesh must join or abide by the 
conditions of the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. It 
also states that military exchanges that license production of their 
own brands or sell at retail other branded garments shall provide a 
preference to vendors which are signatories to the Accord on Fire and 
Building Safety in Bangladesh.
  The accord is a major improvement on non-binding and voluntary social 
compliance programs that have failed to protect workers from

[[Page E876]]

mortal workplace dangers. The Accord has widespread support, and 
signatories include fifty major global apparel companies and retailers 
(including U.S. companies Abercrombie & Fitch, Sean John Apparel, and 
PVH Corporation). It has also received the support of civil society and 
international organizations, including the European Parliament, the 
United Nations, and the International Labour Organization.
  The military exchanges should represent the best of American values--
including those of fairness, justice, and commitment to human rights. 
This amendment is an important step toward ensuring that the United 
States military commissaries and exchanges are not unintentionally 
supporting abuses against garment workers in Bangladesh.

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