Res. No. 1240 Title Resolution calling upon the United States Congress to introduce and adopt legislation requiring the federal government and its agencies to enter into contracts only with apparel and textile manufacturers who adhere to fair labor standards and pay their employees non-poverty wages. Body By Council Members McCaffrey, Carrion, Clarke, Dear, Malave-Dilan, Eisland, Espada, Freed, Koslowitz, Lopez, Marshall, O'Donovan, Quinn and Reed; also Council Members Cruz, DiBrienza, Fisher, Foster, Michels, Pinkett, Povman and Robinson Whereas, The Council of the City of New York finds that it is in the best interests of the United States to procure items of apparel and textile from responsible manufacturers that provide quality and service at the lowest price and provide a safe working environment for their employees; and Whereas, After almost a century of progress in the struggle against sweatshops in the apparel and textile sectors, there has been a recent resurgence of such exploitative and abusive workplaces throughout the United States and around the world; and Whereas, The federal government should not spend taxpayer monies in ways that encourage sweatshops in the apparel and textile sector to thrive; and Whereas, The federal government should choose to allocate its purchasing dollars in order to enhance, rather than degrade, the economic and social wellbeing of people while at the same time assure the public that it is acquiring the maximum quality for the lowest possible cost; and Whereas, Legislation that would require the federal government and its agencies to contract with responsible apparel and textile manufacturers who provide a safe, non-discriminatory work environment and compensate their employees with a non-poverty wage would reduce the number of sweatshops worldwide from being awarded such valuable contracts; now, therefore be it Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the United States Congress to introduce and adopt legislation requiring the federal government and its agencies to enter into contracts only with apparel and textile manufacturers who adhere to fair labor standards and pay their employees non-poverty wages. LS # 2778 Afn