Esteban Torres: “we are talking about crime today, and I want to raise the issue of a crime that is taking place here in this country…”

“we are talking about crime today, and I want to raise the issue of a crime that is taking place here in this country today. We have American employers not only exploiting Americans but also undocumented immigrants and this undercuts legitimate businesses. This encourages undocumented immigration and depresses wages. Of the estimated 50,000 sewing machine contractors nationwide, over one-third operate without licenses, offer no health insurance, do not pay overtime, and pay their workers in cash. They also do not pay taxes. Mr. Speaker, in my county alone, Los Angeles County, employers last year did not pay $120 million in taxes using the tactics of using these kinds of workers. Over half of all the garments made in America are produced in whole or in part by factories that pay below the minimum wage, disregard Federal safety laws, and require workers to spend 60 hours or more on their sewing machines. This is true in the garment industry, in the construction industry, and in farm labor. We must stop this crime. We must put teeth back into our labor enforcement laws that say 'Made in America means made under law.'”