E1314 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 22, 2002 PERSONAL EXPLANATION A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO THE COM- Konrad Dannenberg, born in Weissenfels, MUNITY OF WEST LEIPSIC, OHIO Germany, worked with Wernher von Braun in HON. STEPHANIE TUBBS JONES ON THE OCCASION OF ITS SES- Peenemunde, Germany and came to the OF OHIO QUICENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY United States after World War II under CELEBRATION IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ‘‘Project Paperclip’’. He later helped develop and produce the Redstone and Jupiter missile Monday, July 22, 2002 HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR systems for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency Mrs. JONES of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, please OF OHIO at Redstone Arsenal. In 1960, he joined be advised that I will not be voting on Monday, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center as Dep- due to a commitment in my District. Had I uty Manager of the Saturn program, where he been present, the record would reflect that I Monday, July 22, 2002 received the NASA Exceptional Service would have voted on: Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct Medal. (1) H.R. 1209—Child Status Protection Act, privilege to stand before my colleagues in the Mr. Dannenberg is a Fellow of the American ‘‘yea’’; House to pay special tribute to a special com- Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and (2) H.R. 4558—To Extend The Irish Peace munity in Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District. was past president of the Alabama/Mississippi Process Cultural And Training Program, ‘‘yea’’; On August 17 and 18, 2002, the community of Chapter. He was the recipient of the 1960 (3) S.J. Res. 13—Conferring Honorary Citi- West Leipsic, Ohio is celebrating a truly monu- DURAND Lectureship and the 1995 Hermann zenship On the Marquis de Lafayette, ‘‘yea’’; mental event—its Sesquicentennial Anniver- Oberth Award. Additionally, the NASA Alumni (4) H.R. 3892—Judicial Improvements Act, sary. League, the Hermann Oberth Society of Ger- ‘‘yea’’; Mr. Speaker, West Leipsic, Ohio is one of a many, and the L–5 Society (now the National (5) H.R. 4870—Mount Naomi Wilderness number of wonderful communities in North- Space Society) have the benefit of Mr. Boundary Adjustment Act, ‘‘yea’’; west Ohio. West Leipsic is located in the heart Dannenberg’s membership. In 1992, the Ala- (6) H.R. 1401—California Five Mile Regional of the Fifth Congressional District in Putnam bama Space and Rocket Center created a Learning Center Transfer Act, ‘‘yea’’; County. Throughout its long and traditional- scholarship in his name to allow one student (7) H.R. 3048—Russian River Land Act, filled history, West Leipsic has established to attend a Space Academy session. ‘‘yea’’; itself as a model community. (8) H.R. 3258—Reasonable Right-of-Way We, in Ohio’s Fifth Congressional District, Mr. Speaker, as you can tell, during Mr. Fees Act, ‘‘yea’’; are blessed to have such warm communities, Dannenberg’s career, he was a valuable play- (9) H.R. 3917—Flight 93 National Memorial like West Leipsic. The folks who live in West er in the advancement of our space program Act, ‘‘yea’’; Leipsic are truly some of the most terrific peo- and was appreciated by co-workers and im- (10) H.R. 2990—Lower Rio Grande Valley ple. They are good friends and neighbors, col- portant organizations throughout the industry. Water Resources Improvement Act, ‘‘yea’’; leagues and coworkers, and, together, they Following his retirement, he has remained a (11) H.R. 4940—Arlington National Ceme- form a close-knit family all sharing a common- major influence in the North Alabama commu- tery Burial Eligibility Act, ‘‘yea’’; bond centered around their dedication to their nity and still serves as a consultant for the (12) H.R. 5055—Authorizing The World War community. Alabama Space and Rocket Center in Hunts- II Battle Of The Bulge Memorial, ‘‘yea’’; Over the years I have served in elected of- ville. I want to congratulate Mr. Konrad (13) H.R. 3645—Veterans Health-Care fice, I have had the good fortune to travel to Dannenberg on his 90th birthday and thank Items Procurement Improvement Act, ‘‘yea’’; West Leipsic many times. Each time I visit, I him for the important contributions he has (14) H.R. 5138—True American Heroes Act, am greeted by friendly people who truly know made to our community in North Alabama and ‘‘yea’’; how to make you feel at home. In West the entire United States. (15) H.R. 4901—Keep Monticello On The Leipsic, and towns all across the Fifth District, Nickel Act, ‘‘yea’’; being there is just like being at home. f (16) H. Con. Res. 439—Honoring Corinne Mr. Speaker, the individuality of the Amer- PERSONAL EXPLANATION ‘‘Lindy’’ Claiborne Boggs On The Occasion Of ican culture, the freedom of the American spir- The 25th Anniversary Of The Founding Of The it, is embodied in West Leipsic, Ohio. The Congressional Women’s Caucus, ‘‘yea’’; community of West Leipsic, for one-hundred HON. FRANK MASCARA (17) H. Res. 471—Recognizing The Con- fifty years, has certainly been a model after tributions Of Paul Ecke, Jr. To The Poinsettia which other communities can pattern them- OF PENNSYLVANIA Industry, ‘‘yea’’; selves. As we begin this Sesquicentennial An- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (18) H. Res. 492—Expressing Gratitude For niversary Celebration of West Leipsic, Ohio, I The World Trade Center Cleanup And Recov- would urge my colleagues to join me in this Monday, July 22, 2002 ery Efforts At The Fresh Kills Landfill On Stat- special tribute. It is my hope that the next cen- Mr. MASCARA. Mr. Speaker, on July 17, en Island, NY, Following The Terrorist Attacks tury and a half will be just as joyous as the 2002, I was unavoidably absent for personal Of September 11, 2001, ‘‘yea’’; first. reasons and missed rollcall votes numbered (19) H.R. 5145—William C. Cramer Post Of- f 309 through 318. For the record, had I been fice Building, ‘‘yea’’; present I would have voted yea on rollcall (20) H. Con. Res. 352—Sense Of Congress TRIBUTE TO MR. KONRAD K. DANNENBERG votes 309, 310, 311, 312, 313, 315, and 318, That Federal Land Management Agencies and would have voted nay on rollcall votes Should Implement The Western Governor’s 314, 316, and 317. Association ‘‘Collaborative 10-year Strategy HON. ROBERT E. (BUD) CRAMER, JR. For Reducing Wildland Fire Risks To Commu- OF ALABAMA f nities And The Environment’’, ‘‘yea’’; IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES (21) H. Res. ll—Sense Of The House PERSONAL EXPLANATION That Major League Baseball And The Players Monday, July 22, 2002 Association Should Implement A Mandatory Mr. CRAMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to Steroid Testing Program, ‘‘yea’’; recognize a great member of the North Ala- HON. NITA M. LOWEY (22) H. Con. Res. 385—Sense Of Congress bama community, Mr. Konrad K. Dannenberg. OF NEW YORK The Secretary Of Health And Human Services On August 6th, Mr. Dannenberg will celebrate Should Conduct Research On Certain Tests his 90th birthday. Throughout his ninety years, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES To Screen Ovarian Cancer, ‘‘yea’’; Mr. Dannenberg has been a leader in our na- Monday, July 22, 2002 (23) H. Con. Res. 188—Sense Of Congress tion’s space program, retiring from Marshall That The Government Of The People’s Re- Space Flight Center in 1973 as Deputy Direc- Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Speaker, during an ab- public Of China Should Cease Its Persecution tor of Program Development’s Mission and sence last week, I regrettably missed Rollcall Of Falun Gong Practitioners, ‘‘yea’’; Payload Planning Office. Today, Mount Hope votes 319–323. Had I been present, I would (24) H.R. 3487—Nurse Reinvestment Act, Elementary School in Mt. Hope, Alabama is have voted in the following manner: Rollcall ‘‘yea’’; honoring Mr. Dannenberg for his service to No. 319: ‘‘nay’’; Rollcall No. 320: ‘‘yea’’; Roll- (25) H.R. 3969—Freedom Promotion Act, their school, the North Alabama community, call No. 321: ‘‘yea’’; Rollcall No. 322: ‘‘yea’’; ‘‘yea.’’ and the nation. Rollcall No. 323: ‘‘nay’’.

VerDate 112000 06:04 Jul 23, 2002 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A22JY8.026 pfrm12 PsN: E22PT1 July 22, 2002 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E1315 PROTECT CHINA’S WORKERS tors to carry out their operations. It is due to ceived. For example, workers said they paid this complicated web that overseas corpora- for the temporary residence permits they tions avoid responsibility for the rights of Chi- needed to live and work in Songgang legally, HON. JANICE D. SCHAKOWSKY but never received them. Managers also had OF ILLINOIS na’s working class. the power to impose arbitrary fines, includ- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES In the case of Li Chunmei, it took her father ing penalties for spending more than five 28 days to get someone to take responsibility Monday, July 22, 2002 minutes in the bathroom, wasting food dur- for what had happened to his daughter. He ing meals and failing to meet production Ms. SCHAKOWSKY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to was lead on a wild goose chase when finally quotas, workers said.’’ call attention to the suffering of the working the police concluded that Li Chunmei died be- Another colleague, Zhang Fayong, recalled class in China. I recently read an article, cause of an illness and that her death was that Li once purchased a new dress, then re- ‘‘Worked Till They Drop’’ by Philip P. Pan, in non-work related. Her poor father could do fused to wear it. She said Li was amazed she the Washington Post on May 13th, 2002, and nothing about the ruling and now the family had spent money on it, and afraid she some- it shocked me. According to the Washington how might ruin it. After her death, her fa- again is struggling to make ends meet, this ther found the dress among her belongings, Post, 19-year-old Li Chunmei died due to work time with empty hearts that money will never folded and wrapped in plastic, he said. He exhaustion. She had been on her feet for be able fill. also found a stack of laminated snapshots, nearly 16 hours that day, running back and Mr. Speaker, I have attached excerpts from taken at local photo parlors for 50 cents forth carrying toy parts from machine to ma- this piece but I strongly urge my colleagues to apiece . . . They show Li with her friends chine. Later that evening, she had complained read this article in its entirety. This is an issue . . . She looks surprisingly young, just a that she was very tired and hungry. During the that we can no longer ignore. As China and teenager with long black hair, holding flow- night, her roommates had awakened to the the U.S. improve trade relations, we must con- ers, or saluting, or sitting with an ID tag sounds of violent coughing and tracked the pinned to her blouse . . . She was smiling in tinue to press China to improve its labor, envi- only one picture.’’ source of the sound to find Ms. Chunmei ronment, and human rights record in general. ‘‘Immediately after learning of his daugh- curled-up on the bathroom floor, coughing up Let us do all we can to help these young indi- ter’s death, Li Zhimin traveled to Songgang. blood. They immediately called an ambulance, viduals, before we read of another Li For 28 days, he said, he tried to get someone but she died before it had arrived. Chunmei. to take responsibility of what happened . . . Cases of guolaosi, meaning ‘‘over-work EXCERPTS FROM: ‘‘WORKED TILL THEY DROP’’ BY Finally, police gave him a letter that said a death’’, are never documented but many local PHILIP P. PAN, WASHINGTON POST, MAY 13TH 2002 district medical examiner had concluded Li Chunmel ‘suddenly died because of an illness journalists estimate that dozens occur in the ‘‘On the night she died, Li Chunmel must Pearl River Delta area alone, the manufac- while she was alive.’ There were no other de- have been exhausted. Co-workers said she tails, and the local labor bureau declared her turing region north of Hong Kong where Ms. had been on her feet for nearly 16 hours, run- death ‘non-work-related’ . . . Li said he was Chunmei’s factory, Kaiming Industrial, is lo- ning back and forth inside the Bainan Toy unhappy with the finding, but was helpless cated. What is sad is that nothing is being Factory, carrying toy parts from machine to to do anything about it.’’ done about these horrible deaths. The majority machine. When the quitting bell finally rang of these workers are young men and women shortly after midnight, her young face was f covered with sweat.’’ who travel many miles from their poor villages ‘‘. . . Her roommates had already fallen A SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO to earn a living in China’s factory towns. Many asleep when Li started coughing up blood. FARMWORKER APPRECIATION DAY of them never finish school, being taken out They found her in the bathroom a few hours by their parents to help work on the farm or later, curled up on the floor, moaning softly HON. PAUL E. GILLMOR in the dark, bleeding from her nose and in the family business. By the age of 15, most OF OHIO mouth. Someone called an ambulance, but of these youths are urged by their parents to IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES seek employment in a factory to support the she died before it arrived.’’ family. ‘‘The exact cause of Li’s death remains un- Monday, July 22, 2002 known. But what happened to her last No- These young migrant workers are consid- vember in this industrial town in south- Mr. GILLMOR. Mr. Speaker, it is with a ered second class citizens in China’s industrial eastern Guangdon province is described by great deal of pride that I rise to pay a very cities, receiving less access to the weak her family, friends and co-workers as an ex- special tribute to an outstanding event taking courts and trade unions. Many do not even ample of what China’s more daring news- place in my district in Northwest Ohio. On Sat- know the Chinese word for labor union! The papers call guolaosi. The phrase means urday, August 3, 2002, people from across the factories, many of them backed by foreign in- ‘‘over-work death,’’ and usually applies to district will gather in Liberty Center to cele- vestment, that they work in are drab, concrete young workers who suddenly collapse and die brate Farmworker Appreciation Day. dormitories. Life inside can be compared to after working exceedingly long hours, day Mr. Speaker, there is no question that farm- after day.’’ the feudal system. An average day begins ‘‘These new workers are younger, poorer, ing is the backbone of our nation. From the around 8:00 a.m. and can last until 2 a.m. and less familiar with the promises of labor earliest days of our nation’s history, hard- Breaks are rare. The conditions that these rights and job security that once served as working men and women have taken to the poor souls have to work in are tragic as well. the ideological bedrock of the ruling Com- fields to plant and harvest crops and raise In most of these factories there is no air condi- munist Party. They are more likely to work livestock in order to feed their families, their tioning, with the temperature climbing above for private companies, often backed by for- neighbors, and their fellow countrymen. 90 degrees at times, and the air is full of fi- eign investment, with no socialist tradition Farming is an honorable profession that bers. The average salary for a runner, which of cradle-to-grave benefits. The young mi- takes a great deal of skill, patience, and hard grants are also second-class citizens, with was Ms. Chunmei’s position, is about 12 cents less access to weak courts and trade unions work. Those hardworking men and women an hour and, even during the busy season, that sometime temper market forced as Chi- who work on our nation’s farms deserve much one might earn as little as $65 a month, with na’s economy changes from socialist to capi- credit for helping to make our lands produc- no money received for overtime work. More- talist. Most of all, they are outsiders, strug- tive. over, benefits are non-existent and managers gling to make a living far away from home.’’ Through the arduous process of working tend to make deductions from the workers’ ‘‘Li was a runner . . . always on her feet and cultivating the soil, these farmworkers salaries for items never received. Managers ... ‘She had the worst job, and the bosses help prepare the ground, plant the crops, and were always telling her to go faster,’ said harvest the food we need to live. The life of also tend to impose arbitrary fines on the one worker on Li’s assembly line . . . ‘There workers, which include penalties for spending were no breaks, and there was no air condi- a farmworker is a tough lifestyle. Like the more than five minutes in the bathroom and tioning.’ He added that the air was full of fi- farmer, the farmworker must endure the ever- wasting food during meals. bers, and with the heat from the machines, changing seasons from the harshest winters to When these young workers try to complain sometimes temperatures climbed above 90 the sun-drying, waterless droughts to rain- about these conditions to their supervisors or degrees.’’ soaked days that lead to disastrous floods. government officials, they are told to return to ‘‘Runners required no special skills, and Farmworkers watch the fields as thunderous their jobs or they will be fired or even arrested. were paid the least, about 12 cents per hour, storms race across them damaging the crops workers said. During the busy season, in- Local officials often overlook labor rights and cluding extra pay for overtime, Li could cam from which they make their living. However, safety violations, eager to take bribes and about $65 a month. But there were deduc- through it all, farmworkers continue to the generate tax revenue. The concept of subcon- tions. Workers said the company withheld fields to do their work. tracting further complicates the situation, as about $12 a month for room and board and Mr. Speaker, agriculture is vitally important many foreign investors rely on these contrac- charged them for benefits they never re- to the Fifth District of Ohio as we are home to

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