[Page H10005]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      CELEBRATING HUMAN RIGHTS DAY

  (Mr. PAYNE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate Human Rights Day.
  More than 70 years ago today, the United Nations established the 
fundamental human rights to be protected for every person in every 
nation, such as the right to liberty, freedom from slavery, and freedom 
of opinion.
  But there were rights added in 1976 that bear repeating here today: 
the right to work in just and under favorable conditions, the right to 
an adequate standard of living, and the right to an education.
  In the last few decades, we have failed to live up to these rights. 
We have allowed unions to lose their power and protect worker 
conditions. We have failed to increase the Federal minimum wage. We 
have failed to provide funding for higher education.
  We need to get these rights back for all Americans. We can regain the 
high ground in our struggle for human rights.

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