EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS

∑ 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.

May 23, 1995 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E 1097

THE RIGHTS OF AMERICAN LABOR

SHOULD BE RESPECTED

HON. WILLIAM J. COYNE OF PENNSYLVANIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. COYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to

state my strong opposition to efforts now

being made by the Republican Majority to

weaken U.S. laws that protect the rights of

American workers.

The United States has a proud labor history

based on independent unions and the

progress achieved in the living standards of

working class American families reflects this

history. America’s unions have played a

central role in guaranteeing that workers in our

country participate in the benefits of economic

growth. American labor struggled for decades

to ensure that the rights of working men and

women were respected by employers and

public officials responsible for making and enforcing our Nation’s laws.

U.S. labor laws benefit all working families,

regardless of whether they may participate in

a collective bargaining organization. Landmark

legislation enacted in the 1930’s established a

minimum wage and the 40-hour week, protected our Nation’s children from dangerous

and exploitative working conditions, and guaranteed the rights of Americans to bargain collectively. Tragically, Americans labor laws are

currently under attack by the new Republican

majority in the House.

Republican Leaders in the House have proposed to revise or eliminate legal rights established as long as six decades ago. Rights

taken for granted by most Americans are now

in jeopardy. House Majority Leader RICHARD

ARMEY has stated that he not only opposed

any increase in the minimum wage but would

instead advocate the repeal of this historic

U.S. labor law.

One clear attempt to have Congress retreat

from the labor rights protected currently by

U.S. law is H.R. 743, the Team Act. This bill

would amend the National Labor Relations Act

to permit employers to establish company

labor organizations that would effectively complete with independent unions. H.R. 743 would

overturn existing law which prohibits employers from establishing management-controlled

worker groups to oversee workplace issue.

The intent of this legislation is to set aside National Labor Relations Board ruling that have

prevented nonunion employers from using

sham company unions to discourage the organization of independent collective bargaining

units.

I believe that the House must reject the

Team Act and any other similar legislation that

would undermine the rights of American workers to unionize. The National Labor Relations

Act has succeeded in promoting fair and open

negotiation between labor and management

over workplace issues important to both parties. Abandoning the principles of this landmark legislation is wrong.

Another example of an attack on labor is the

plan to repeal the Davis-Bacon Act that benefits all American communities by ensuring that

federally funded construction projects are built

by construction companies employing skilled

and experienced workers. Davis-Bacon denies

unscrupulous fly-by-night operators an opportunity to undercut local wages. Davis-Bacon

has also saved taxpayers money by ensuring

that qualified companies are used to complete

Federal construction projects on-time and onbudget.

Without Davis-Bacon, more than a half million American construction workers will see

their wages pushed down by fly-by-night contractors. Legitimate companies will be put

under pressure to pay substandard wages.

Federal income tax receipts would also be reduced by at least $1 billion a year if DavisBacon were repealed.

The results of Davis-Bacon repeal can be

observed at the State level. The nine States

that have repealed State prevailing wage laws

have been construction wages fall and State

treasuries have lost substantial income and

sale tax revenues. In Utah, the size of cost

overruns on State road construction tripled.

The use of less skilled and less experienced

construction workers has also led to an increase in the number of injuries and fatalities

in the workplace.

A repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act is simply a

bad idea. Any imagined benefit of a DavisBacon repeal is far outweighed by the costs in

dollars and in the lives of American workers.

I urge my colleagues in the House to just say

no to the repeal of the Davis-Bacon Act.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that each Member of

the House should let their constituents know

where they stand on the issue of protecting

the legal rights of American working men and

women. I hope my colleagues will join with me

in fighting to ensure that the U.S. House of

Representatives respects the right of American labor.

IN APPRECIATION OF THE NEW

BRITAIN MUSICAL CLUB ON

fTHEIR 75TH ANNIVERSARY

HON. NANCY L. JOHNSON OF CONNECTICUT

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mrs. JOHNSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and appreciation that

I extend my congratulations to the New Britain

Musical Club of the occasion of its 75th anniversary. The members of the club, which was

formed in 1920 by Theron Wolcott Hart, will

celebrate this milestone at its annual banquet

this evening.

The New Britain Musical Club has grown

throughout the decades, with members first

gathering in each others’ homes and now at

the First Church of Christ Congregational. At

their monthly performances, members and

guests of the club present vocal and instrumental selections representing a broad range

of musical interests. The New Britain Musical

Club has offered the citizens of the Hardware

City an opportunity to attend performances of

dance, the classics, and popular music combined with good fellowship with their neighbors.

The club members have also demonstrated

their love of music through the establishment

of scholarships to students with outstanding

musical ability for the Julliard School of Music.

For close to 50 years, the New Britain Musical

Club has sponsored an Advert concert of Handel’s Messiah for the community. The club is

a valuable asset in New Britain, CT’s rich cultural fabric where the presentation of music

and art is highly prized.

A TRIBUTE TO ROBERT SESSIONS

fHON. JERRY LEWIS OF CALIFORNIA

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Tuesday, May 23, 1995

Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I

would like to bring to your attention the untimely passing of a fine man and an outstanding public servant, chief of police Robert Sessions of Barstow, CA. Chief Sessions, a 28-

year member of the department and an inspiring presence to the city of Barstow, died on

May 20 after a brief battle with cancer.

Bob Sessions was born on March 23, 1940

and received a A.A. degree in education from

Barstow Community College and a B.S. degree in sociology from Chapman College. He

also graduated from the FBI’s National Academy. In 1963, Bob married Carol Dawson and

later they adopted two children, Jon and Jennifer. Together they moved to Barstow to

make their home and work for Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway. Four years later,

Bob became a reserve officer with the Barstow Police Department and was sworn in as

a full time peace officer in 1968.

Over the years, Bob worked his way

through the ranks of the Barstow Police Department assuming the position of patrol officer, K–9 officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, and captain. In September 1985 Bob was

promoted to chief of police. During his tenure,

Chief Sessions implemented numerous programs and projects including the Drug Abuse

Resistance and Education [DARE] Program,

the Retired Senior Volunteer Program [RSVP],

the Community Oriented Policing and Problem

Solving Program, and many others.

Chief Sessions’ involvement in and support

for numerous professional organizations is

well known. He was a past president of the

San Bernardino County Chief’s Association, as

well as a member of the California Chiefs of

Police Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the California Peace

Officer’s Association, and many others. In addition, Chief Sessions played an extraordinary

and active role in our civic and community life

as a member of the Church of Jesus Christ