[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19856]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. AL GREEN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 18, 2007

  Mr. AL GREEN of Texas. Madam Speaker, I was visiting veterans at the 
Walter Reed Army Medical Center with members of the Texas Congressional 
delegation. I was unavoidably delayed and missed the votes on H.R. 980, 
the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act (rollcall 633), and 
H. Res. 547, the resolution providing for consideration of the 
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations for FY 2008 (rollcall 634).
  Although H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation 
Act (rollcall 633) passed by a vote of 314-97, and H. Res. 547, the 
resolution providing for consideration of the Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations for FY 2008 (rollcall 634) passed by a vote of 232-178, 
I respectfully request the opportunity to record my position. Had I 
been present I would have voted ``yea'' on rollcalls 633 and 634.
  I would particularly like to express my strong support for H.R. 980, 
a bill I am proud to have cosponsored. The bill would establish minimum 
standards for state collective bargaining laws for police officers, 
firefighters and other public safety officers, including the right to 
join a union; the right to have their union recognized by their 
employer; the right to bargain collectively over hours, wages and terms 
and conditions of employment; a mediation or arbitration process for 
resolving an impasse in negotiations; and enforcement of contracts 
through state courts. This legislation would not affect a majority of 
states because their laws already meet or exceed the minimum standards.

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