Rep. Scholten Co-leads Letter Calling on Congress to Combat Child Labor
The letter calls on Congress to increase funding to investigate and hold accountable employers that are illegally exploiting child workers.
WASHINGTON—Congresswoman Hillary Scholten (MI-03), alongside her Child Labor Prevention Task Force Co-Chair, Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08), led 37 Members of Congress in urging congressional leaders to pass legislation to crack down on child labor violations across the United States. The letter supports President Biden’s request for additional funding for the U.S. Department of Labor to address child labor violations.
“Since 2018, violations of child labor laws have increased nearly 70 percent. According to reports, some children have been seriously injured, maimed and even killed in illegal working conditions…We urge you to pass this much needed funding to combat child labor and look forward to working with you to protect children from illegal dangerous working conditions and hold employers accountable when they violate our child labor laws,” the lawmakers wrote.
In July, Congresswoman Scholten (MI-03) and Congressman Dan Kildee launched the Child Labor Prevention Task Force to address the child labor crisis more comprehensively and urgently in the United States.
In addition to Scholten, the letter was signed by Representatives Dan Kildee (MI-08), Nanette Barragán (CA-44), Donald Beyer (VA-08), Yadira Caraveo (CO-08), André Carson (IN-07), Kathy Castor (FL-14), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Danny Davis (IL-07), Anna Eshoo (CA-16), Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04), Daniel Goldman (NY-10), Al Green (TX-09), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), Seth Magaziner (RI-02), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Morgan McGarvey (KY-03), James McGovern (MA-02), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Jimmy Panetta (CA-20), Bill Pascrell (NJ-09), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Katie Porter (CA-47), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Linda Sánchez (CA-38), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Dina Titus (NV-01), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), David Trone (MD-06), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Nikema Williams (GA-05).
Below is the full text of the letter:
Dear Speaker McCarthy, Minority Leader Jeffries, Majority Leader Schumer, and Minority Leader McConnell:
We are writing in support of additional dedicated funding to combat illegal child labor in any government funding legislation being considered this year.
The Biden administration included in its supplemental funding request to Congress $100 million in funding for the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to investigate and hold accountable employers that are illegally exploiting child workers. We applaud the administration for recognizing the scale of this problem and seeking additional resources to address egregious child labor violations across the country. Even now, DOL is undergoing an independent assessment of the agency’s efforts to enforce child labor law – which we know have been strained by increased violations and limited funding. Clearly, these additional resources are badly needed and should be passed by Congress without delay.
Recently, Americans have seen disturbing reports documenting the rise of companies illegally employing children in dangerous jobs. These reports show child labor is a systemic issue in the United States, with children illegally making products for major corporations in the automotive, processed food and textile industries. Since 2018, violations of child labor laws have increased nearly 70 percent. According to reports, some children have been seriously injured, maimed and even killed in illegal working conditions.
As members of the Child Labor Prevention Task Force, we also support legislation to both establish harsher civil and criminal penalties for violations of our child labor laws and increase transparency around companies that are violating them. While we must ensure regulators are properly resourced, we are committed to taking further action to address this child labor crisis and crack down on violators.
We urge you to pass this much needed funding to combat child labor and look forward to working with you to protect children from illegal dangerous working conditions and hold employers accountable when they violate our child labor laws.
Sincerely,
Hillary Scholten
Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-08)
Rep. Nanette Barragán (CA-44)
Rep. Donald Beyer (VA-08)
Rep. Yadira Caraveo (CO-08)
Rep. André Carson (IN-07)
Rep. Kathy Castor (FL-14)
Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28)
Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09)
Rep. Danny Davis (IL-07)
Rep. Anna Eshoo (CA-16)
Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García (IL-04)
Rep. Daniel Goldman (NY-10)
Rep. Al Green (TX-09)
Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA-08)
Rep. Seth Magaziner (RI-02)
Rep. Kathy Manning (NC-06)
Rep. Betty McCollum (MN-04)
Rep. Morgan McGarvey (KY-03)
Rep. James McGovern (MA-02)
Rep. Gwen Moore (WI-04)
Rep. Kevin Mullin (CA-15)
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14)
Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-20)
Rep. Bill Pascrell (NJ-09)
Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02)
Rep. Katie Porter (CA-47)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25)
Rep. Linda Sánchez (CA-38)
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (IL-09)
Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13)
Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01)
Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI-12)
Rep. Jill Tokuda (HI-02)
Rep. David Trone (MD-06)
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25)