E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 159 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, MAY 6, 2013 No. 62 House of Representatives The House met at noon and was gering body count occurred just 5 that pits supplier against supplier and called to order by the Speaker pro tem- months after the Tazreen factory fire country against country in a cal- pore (Mr. BENTIVOLIO). that killed at least 112 workers. Forty culated race to the bottom. Often, the margin for these corpora- f more incidents, including explosions and fires, causing death and injury, tions is subsistence wages and the DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO have taken place since the Tazreen fac- needless disregard for the safety of TEMPORE tory fire. these young women. That is the sub- The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- I met with one of the Tazreen sur- sidy they receive—low wages and un- fore the House the following commu- vivors when she visited Washington safe working conditions for the work- nication from the Speaker: last month. She described the out- ers who produce these garments. Four rageous working conditions leading up million Bangladeshi workers in 5,000 WASHINGTON, DC, factories provide clothing to Ameri- May 6, 2013. to the fire. She toiled in a factory with I hereby appoint the Honorable KERRY bars on the windows and no place to cans and to European brands while BENTIVOLIO to act as Speaker pro tempore on run if a fire broke out. She told me how earning one of the lowest minimum this day. she jumped from the third floor of the wages in the world—about $37 a month. JOHN A. BOEHNER, burning factory to save her body from But they shouldn’t have to risk their Speaker of the House of Representatives. the fire so her family could recognize lives for the fashion industry’s profits. These young women are forced to f her in case of her death, and many of work in factories with overtaxed elec- MORNING-HOUR DEBATE her coworkers jumped with her, but did trical circuits, unenforced building not survive the fall. During our meet- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- codes, and premises without fire- ing, it became clear that it was only a fighting equipment and adequate exits, ant to the order of the House of Janu- matter of time before the next Tazreen ary 3, 2013, the Chair will now recog- and in most cases, the exits are would take place. chained closed. Americans who are the nize Members from lists submitted by Two weeks later, Rana Plaza col- the majority and minority leaders for consumers of these products are in- lapsed. creasingly worried that the label morning-hour debate. Unfortunately, these tragedies in The Chair will alternate recognition ‘‘Made in Bangladesh’’ actually means Bangladesh are not isolated, and more ‘‘made in a death trap.’’ between the parties, with each party of these tragedies, undoubtedly, will Why are the managers of these fac- limited to 1 hour and each Member occur unless the major international tories forcing these employees to work other than the majority and minority corporations that keep these dangerous in these deplorable conditions? Because leaders and the minority whip limited factories open decide to change their of fear—fear that the international to 5 minutes each, but in no event shall business practices. Clearly, there is a brands and the retailers, which we debate continue beyond 1:50 p.m. greater role for the U.S. and other gov- know so well, will take their orders f ernments to play, including the Ban- elsewhere because of a missed day of gladesh Government. However, the pri- BANGLADESH production, a late delivery, or a minus- mary burden for action now lies with cule increase in production costs. The The SPEAKER pro tempore. The the major brands and retailers. brands know this. That’s why I believe Chair recognizes the gentleman from Let’s remember what is at stake they bear the ultimate responsibility California (Mr. GEORGE MILLER) for 5 here: the lives of thousands of young for the horrendously unsafe working minutes. women and mothers trying to scrape conditions in Bangladesh and else- Mr. GEORGE MILLER of California. together an existence by working 12- where. Mr. Speaker, over the past several hour shifts for pennies a garment. Corporate leaders in the fashion in- years, more than a thousand workers They produce clothing under con- dustry have a moral imperative to en- have died from working in Ban- tract with corporations we all know sure that these tragedies do not happen gladesh’s garment industry. well: Walmart, J. C. Penney, Mango, again. These retailers and brands need In the latest tragedy, an eight-story Benetton, H&M, The Children’s Place, to sign on to an enforceable agreement building called Rana Plaza collapsed. It GAP, and Dress Barn, among others. that will improve safety, called the housed five garment factories. It has The clothes these women sew in Ban- Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety killed more than 650 workers so far, in- gladesh we buy here in America. Unfor- Agreement. It was developed by the jured more than a thousand, with still tunately, these young women are Bangladeshi trade unions and non- more buried in the rubble. This stag- caught working in a garment industry governmental organizations to prevent b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. H2407 . VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:51 May 07, 2013 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 7634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A06MY7.000 H06MYPT1 pwalker on DSK7TPTVN1PROD with HOUSE H2408 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 6, 2013 these types of disasters from occurring of the House of Representatives that I have I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the by addressing the most urgent ele- been served with a subpoena, issued by the United States of America, and to the Repub- ments: Circuit Court for Cullman County, Alabama, lic for which it stands, one nation under God, One, public reporting of all fire and for documents a civil case to which I am not indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. a party. f building audits conducted by inde- After consultation with the Office of Gen- pendent safety experts; eral Counsel, I will determine whether com- SAVANNAH RIVER SITE Two, mandates that factory owners pliance with the subpoena is consistent with REPROGRAMMING SUCCESSFUL make timely repairs; the privileges and rights of the House. (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina Three, an obligation for the brands to Sincerely, asked and was given permission to ad- JENNIFER BUTLER-TAYLOR, terminate a contract if a factory defies dress the House for 1 minute and to re- its responsibility to keep workers safe; Director of Constituent Services, U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt (AL–04). vise and extend his remarks.) Four, the right for workers to refuse Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. unsafe work without retribution—to be f Speaker, on Friday, I was grateful to able to refuse work without being fired, RECESS conduct a town hall in Aiken, South being penalized—and union access to Carolina, where I listened to hundreds factories, among other labor protec- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair of constituents who are very concerned tions, so they can see for themselves about the reprogramming request at what are the working conditions on declares the House in recess until 2 p.m. today. the Savannah River site. Fortunately, any given day. over the weekend, the President’s Of- To make this work, these commit- Accordingly (at 12 o’clock and 8 min- utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. fice of Management and Budget sent ments must be contained in an enforce- the request to both Houses of Congress able contract between the brands and f for approval. worker representatives because it is b 1400 This is a crucial step to end the 20 the workers’ lives that are on the line. percent pay cut for 2,600 employees of The holding companies of Calvin Klein, AFTER RECESS Savannah River Nuclear Solutions. I Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, and The recess having expired, the House appreciate the town hall participants: IZOD have signed on to this agreement was called to order by the Speaker pro President Terra Carroll of the North already, and a major German retailer tempore (Mr. COLLINS of New York) at Augusta Chamber of Commerce; Chair- has signed on as well. Others are now 2 p.m. man Ronnie Young of the Aiken Coun- meeting in Europe to discuss its provi- f ty Council; Aiken City Council mem- sions. bers, Philip Merry and Dick Dewar; I applaud these efforts toward cor- PRAYER State Senator Tom Young, Jr.; Presi- porate responsibility. It is now time for The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick dent David Jameson of the Greater the major U.S. corporations, like GAP, J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: Aiken Chamber of Commerce; Vice Walmart, and J.C. Penney, to join We give You thanks, O God, for giv- Chancellor Joe Sobieralski of USC- them, but we must also take note and ing us another day. Aiken; DHEC facilities liaison, Shelly call out any attempt to water down the We ask Your blessing upon this as- Wilson; USC-Aiken student, Hannah key provisions of this agreement.