Jerry McNerney Joins Pete McCloskey: "It's Time For Richard Pombo To Come Clean On The Mariana Islands And Jack Abramoff"
Press Release
Jerry McNerney Joins Pete McCloskey: "It's Time For Richard Pombo To Come Clean On The Mariana Islands And Jack Abramoff"
Jerry McNerney joined Pete McCloskey today in calling on Congressman
Richard Pombo to answer questions about his knowledge of deplorable factory conditions in
the Northern Mariana Islands (a territory of the United States) as well as Jack Abramoff's
lobbying of Pombo to block anti-sweatshop Mariana Islands legislation in Congress.
On Monday, McCloskey raised the issue of Pombo's "willful inaction" to address the forced
abortions, forced prostitution and exploitation of young women from China, the Philippines
and Thailand to sew clothing that is labeled "Made in the USA" but is produced under
employment practices illegal in the mainland United States.
Jerry McNerney praised McCloskey, running against Pombo in the June 6th Republican
primary, and questioned Pombo's judgment.
"Pete McCloskey is absolutely right in courageously calling out Richard Pombo for his
immoral neglect of basic human rights in a U.S. territory," said McNerney. "It is deplorable
that Congressman Pombo -- after touring the Marianas and viewing the garment factories --
would not do everything in his considerable power to extend basic U.S. labor, immigration
and customs laws to workers in the Marianas Islands."
"The result of this human exploitation is shocking: Forced abortions and forced prostitution,"
said McNerney. "Somehow, I don't think Pombo's constituents -- especially those with strong
anti-abortion views -- want a Congressman whose actions directly contribute to forced
abortions and forced prostitution."
McNerney also called on Pombo to reveal details regarding Jack Abramoff's lobbying against
legislation that would apply American labor laws to the Marianas. "Where Jack Abramoff
went, Richard was never far behind. To distance himself from Abramoff, Pombo should
come clean now and immediately endorse the bill proposed by Congressman George Miller
to extend U.S. labor laws to the Marianas Islands," said McNerney.
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http://www.jerrymcnerney.org/Press%20Releases/Marianas.pdf