Hilda L. Solis: “I had the dubious distinction of representing a district where it was found that 72 Thai women workers were held…”

“I had the dubious distinction of representing a district where it was found that 72 Thai women workers were held hostage, slave labor here in our own country, 72 women. Some had been there for 7 years. Some were not paid overtime. Some were not even paid minimum wage. My whole opinion on this matter is that if we do not have enough support here in our own borders at times, how can we also, with all honesty and integrity, go out and expect other countries that have records that are much more egregious than ours to meet these standards that we want to set, that the American public wants to set? I can tell Members firsthand how difficult it is trying to secure rights for workers now, for immigrant workers in our own country, along the border and in East Los Angeles, and the city of El Monte in the San Gabriel Valley, which I represent, that people are even being paid minimum wage, and they are sometimes not allowed to bargain or join a union.”