Speech #1050021807

I do not pretend that thm problems exist only In other nations. Just last week. 1 joined with human rights and labor groups to release a report documenting the systematic exploitation of foreign workers--mosly young womenIn the sweatshops and other manufacturing industries located in our own teitory of the Northern Mariana Islands. My legislation would compel that territory to meet Federal standards for minimum wage and immigration. and would deny manufacturers there the right to continue to use the "Made in USA" label on their products unless they were manufactured in full compliance with our own labor laws. I conducted that Investigation and Intro. duced that bill for the same reasons that motivats me on NAFTA and International trade: American consumers should not Inadvertently promote and support with their dollars. the exploitation of workers. or the rape of the environmerrnt. or other practices that we will not tolerate in this country and should not subsidize In the name of "free trade." The trade may be free. but the workers sure arent Lets lace the fact that there are nations and there are businesses that rely on the exploltation of children. women. or the environment to attract investment in their country. And lets face the fact thai these nations rely on the rules and rhetoric of the free trade game to pull all of us down to the lowest common denominator.