October 24, 1990 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 33827 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS CONGRESSIONAL SALUTE TO Jack began his union career as an organiz­ summarized the results of our seven public MSGR. GEORGE G. HIGGINS er for the International Pulp, Sulphite & Paper hearings as follows: "Our country faces seri­ AND JACK SHEINKMAN Mill Workers before joining the Amalgamated ous problems with respect to our long-term Clothing Workers of America in 1953. At the energy security, and these problems could ACTWU, he led the union in two historic labor become critical unless action is taken without HON. ROBERT A. ROE struggles, the EPIC campaign on the Texas­ delay"-"Subcommittee Investigation Discov­ OF NEW JERSEY Mexican border to bring social and economic ers Dangers to U.S. Energy Security That Call justice to workers at the Farah manufacturing IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES for Action Now," remarks on the House floor, plants in El Paso and San Antonio, which took CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, November 20, Tuesday, October 23, 1990 22 months before its successful conclusion. 1989, page H9424. In addition, he led the struggle to permit We concluded by imploring the President to Mr. ROE. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride unionization of the J.P. Stevens textile plants publish a national energy policy without delay. and admiration that I rise today in tribute to which had begun years earlier by the Textile We pointed out that "lead times are long in two outstanding Americans, Msgr. George G. Workers ·Union of America and which was the energy field and the next 5 to 10 years Higgins and Jack Sheinkman, president of the continued by the ACTWU after the merger. are critical." Because of this time element, we Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers of His efforts culminated with contractual agree­ concluded that: "Every passing month without America. Through their actions, these two indi­ ment being reached in 1980. an energy policy * * * cuts down the coun­ viduals have contributed so much to the labor Jack is a vice president of the AFL-CIO and try's margin of safety in energy security; every movement of our country and working people its industrial union department and chairman passing season sees us forfeit export opportu­ everywhere. of its executive council committee on benefit nities for energy techologies that this country On November 15, 1990, the eighth annual funds. He also serves as vice president of the should be developing; every passing year Sol Stetin Award Dinner will be held in my International Textile Garment & Leather Work­ without direction in this vital field erodes the Eighth Congressional District at the West­ ers' Federation. leadership capability of the United States in mount Country Club in West Paterson, NJ. As part of his work on behalf of ACTWU organizing responses to global energy and en­ This festive occasion will honor Monsignor members, Jack plays an active and leading vironmental problems." Higgins and President Sheinkman who are role in a number of organizations working to this year's recipients of the prestigious Sol SITUATION IN AUTUMN OF 1989 achieve greater equality and justice in the At the time of our first report, the situation Stetin Award. workplace, promote civil liberties, defend The dinner will benefit the Botto House, was as follows: workers' rights, improve collective bargaining The dependency of the U.S. economy of oil which was declared a national landmark in and labor management relations. He is also 1983. The Botto House played a major role as imports had grown from 28 percent in 1982 involved in efforts to promote world peace and 1983 to 38 percent in 1988, according to a haven for free speech and assembly during and establish free trade unions and democrat­ a stirring chapter of U.S. history, the 1913 Pa­ the Department of Energy's conservative net ic institutions in other countries. import method of calculation-or, about 43 terson silk strike. The 6-month strike involved Mr. Speaker, it is indeed an honor to pay more than 23,000 silk workers and is consid­ percent according to the American Petroleum tribute to these two outstanding American citi­ Institute's gross import method; ered to be a milestone toward reform of the zens who have done so much to aid the work­ American workplace, eventually resulting in President Rea~an had made a formal find­ ing men and women of our great Nation. I ing that the 1988 level of imports "threatens the acceptance of the 8-hour day, minimum salute Msgr. George G. Higgins and Jack wage standards, and other worker benefits to impair the national security"; Sheinkman, the 1990 recipients of the Sol Oil imports were running about 42 percent now broadly enjoyed by Americans. Stetin Award. Mr. Speaker, Msgr. George G. Higgins of of U.S. consumption-Department of the Catholic University of America is one of Energy-for the first three-quarters of 1989, the leading spokespersons for the Catholic INTERIM REPORT ON SUBCOM­ the fourth highest level in U.S. history; Church in the United States on matters affect­ MITTEE INVESTIGATION AND The margin of safety for electricity genera­ ing labor. He is currently an adjunct lecturer at SENSE OF CONGRE~SS RESOLU­ tion stood only two points above minimum re­ the department of theology at this fine univer­ TION THAT THE PRESIDENT quirements for the Nation as a whole, and 2 sity. COMPLETE A NATIONAL points below minimum safety standards for Monsignor Higgins was born in Chicago, IL, ENERGY POLICY the Atlantic Seaboard, from Florida to on January 21, 1916. He was educated at Quebec; Catholic schools in the Chicago area, graduat­ HON. MARY ROSE OAKAR The administration did not have a national energy policy to address these problems, as ing from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary in OF OHIO mandated by statute in 1977. The administra­ Mundelein, IL, in 1939. Graduate study in eco­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES tion was studying the matter, including a nomics and political science followed at the Wednesday, October 24, 1990 Catholic University of America, where he series of hearings that began on July 31, earned his Ph.D. in 1944. One of the proudest Ms. OAKAR. Mr. Speaker, before the 101 st 1989. moments in his life came on May 18, 1940, Congress adjourns, I want to update the Mem­ SITUATION IN THE AUTUMN OF 1990 when he was ordained a priest. He was sub­ bers on a 2-year long inquiry of the Subcom­ A year later the situation has changed for sequently named monsignor in October 1953, mittee on Economic Stabilization on energy the worse: and domestic prelate in December 1959. security, and to place before this body a reso­ Oil imports for the first 7 months of 1990 Mr Speaker, tonight we also honor Jack lution that embodies my conclusion that the were running at 45 percent of U.S. consump­ Sheinkman, president of the Amalgamated President should comply with the Energy Or­ tion-Department of Energy, or 50 percent ac­ Clothing & Textile Workers Union, AFL-CIO, ganization Act of 1977 by developing and an­ cording to API, the second highest level in CLC. Jack was elected to the presidency of nouncing a national energy policy on or before American history; the union in June 1987, after serving as sec­ December 31, 1990. The Gas Research Institute estimates that retary-treasurer and cochief executive officer SUMMARY OF 1989 REPORT TO THE HOUSE the United States will be 60 percent depend­ of the union since 1972. Prior to 1972, he Last year at about this time, as chair of the ent on foreign oil by the year 2000 and 65 served as a vice president of the union. Subcommittee on Economic Stabilization, I percent by 201 0; e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor. 33828 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS October 24, 1990 The pending Clean Air Act amendments, LEGISLATION OF 1977 REFLECTS WISE DIVISION OF were incorporated into this year's Housing bill according to the Electric Power Research In­ LABOR (S. 566). stitute and the North American Electric Reli­ The congressional decision of 1977 to The House Energy Committee, under the ability Council, hold the potential of driving the place the responsibility on the President, in able chairmanship of the gentleman from safety margin for electricity generation down my judgment, reflects a proper division of Michigan [Mr. DINGELL] and the Energy and to 3.6 percent below minimum standards for labor between the legislative and executive Power Subcommittee under the equally able the entire Eastern United States by the mid- branches. chairmanship of the gentleman from Indiana 1990's, making a series of blackouts and The President, as chief executive officer, [Mr. SHARP] have made extremely important brownouts almost inevitable; can call upon approximately 2 million employ­ contributions to the Nation's energy security Events in the Middle East removed 4.3 mil­ ees, including 16,000 full-time employees of during this 1OOth Congress, including the leg­ lion barrels per day of oil from the world the Department of Energy, as well as the ex­ islation to increase the strategic petroleum re­ market; pertise of the Council of Economic Advisors, serve to 1 billion barrles. the Department of Transportation, and the En­ Our subcommittee had conducted 11 public CONGRESS CAN NOT DO THE JOB ALONE hearings on various aspects of energy securi­ vironmental Protection Agency to assist him in making energy policy.