April 4, 2001

LWP brief U.S. Congress on Nike's sweatshop abuses

On April 4, 2001 Living Wage Project Directors Leslie Kretzu and Jim Keady, along with Press for Change Director Jeff Ballinger and St. John's University Professor Emeritus Rev. Paul Surlis were hosted on Capitol Hill to brief members of Congress on the information they gathered this past summer about Nike's sweatshop abuses in Indonesia.

Leslie and Jim were invited to give the briefing by Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH). Rep. Brown has a long history of pursuing social justice, particularly in the anti-sweatshop campaign.

The briefing was attended by staff members from the following Congressional offices: Rep. David Phelps (D-IL), Rep. Ted Strickland (D-OH), Rep. Robert Borkski (D-PA), Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA), Rep. Lane Evans (D-IL), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA), Rep. Lynn Rivers (D-MI), Rep. Julia Carson (D-IN), Rep. Martin Frost (D-TX), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Rep. George Miller (D-CA). There were also representatives from the AFL-CIO's Union Institute in attendance.

Leslie and Jim offer their deepest gratitude to Representatives Brown, McKinney and Smith and their staff for the hard work in making this event a success. Particular thanks goes to Arlan Fuller, Congressman Brown's Legislative Assistant.