IV 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 72 

Recognizing and honoring America’s labor movement, supporting the 

designation of a National Labor History Month, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

FEBRUARY 16, 2007 

Ms. LINDA T. SA ́NCHEZ of California (for herself, Mr. MICHAUD, Mr. LYNCH, 

Mr. PAYNE, Ms. WOOLSEY, Mr. HINOJOSA, Mr. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. 

GRIJALVA, Mr. HARE, Mr. BERMAN, Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida, 

Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Ms. DELAURO, Mr. FATTAH, 

Mr. AL GREEN of Texas, Mr. HONDA, Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas, Ms. 

KAPTUR, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin, Mr. MORAN of 

Virginia, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, and Mr. LARSON of Connecticut) submitted 

the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee 

on Education and Labor 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Recognizing and honoring America’s labor movement, supporting the designation of a National Labor History 

Month, and for other purposes. 

Whereas the labor movement has greatly impacted the quality 

of life of all Americans; 

Whereas in the early 20th century, millions of Americans left 

their farms to begin new lives as factory workers; 

Whereas many of these individuals found neither secure employment nor higher wages at their new jobs; 


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Whereas the industrial economy brought these workers exploitation, continued poverty, and the risk of injury and 

death; 

Whereas students of United States history vividly recall the 

images of filthy children emerging from mills and mines, 

stories of terrible fires and explosions, and the grim legacy of the slums that emerged in factory towns; 

Whereas efforts to eliminate child labor, sweatshops, and 

workplace disasters began to succeed only after workers 

organized and spoke with a united and independent voice; 

Whereas the American labor movement helped the first generation of industrial workers express their aspirations 

and insecurities, and empowered them with the necessary 

tools to define the terms and conditions of their employment and expand the role of labor in larger society; 

Whereas in facing the challenges posed by global competition 

and rapid technological advances, the workers of the 21st 

century need the same effective leadership that allowed 

their forebears to succeed; 

Whereas many Americans, members of union and non-union 

households alike, are unaware of these struggles; 

Whereas the United States has recognized other important 

contributions made to this country through designations 

such as National Women’s History Month and National 

Black History Month; 

Whereas the celebration of Labor Day on the first Monday 

of September, while a cherished holiday by all accounts, 

is inadequate for educating the public about the many 

contributions that unions, union members, and other 

working people have made to the lives of working families; 


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Whereas many resources exist within various colleges, universities, and international union training centers to help 

educate union members on the importance of these labor 

struggles; and 

Whereas each new generation of workers must embrace the 

activism that has characterized labor’s rich history, and 

all Americans should recognize the role that labor has 

played in the continuing progress of the democracy of the 

United States: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 

2 concurring), That Congress— 

3 (1) honors and recognizes the American labor 

4 movement; 

5 (2) supports the designation of a National 

6 Labor History Month; and 

7 (3) urges government officials, educators, the 

8 media, and all Americans to observe a National 

9 Labor History Month with ceremonies, activities, 

10 and programs that encourage reflection on the labor 

11 movement’s heritage and its many contributions to 

12 the creation and maintenance of a just America. 

Æ 


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