Charles Norwood: “I have absolute proof that Dave Lauriski comes from the private sector, and I am delighted that he comes from the…”

“I have absolute proof that Dave Lauriski comes from the private sector, and I am delighted that he comes from the private sector to bring to us new and innovative ideas on health and safety for our miners. I must oppose this amendment, and let me say that I do so, I believe, for the sake of the health and safety of American miners. Any attempt to slow down the progress of what could be groundbreaking safety technology or hinder its widespread use is just wrong, and that is what this amendment does. This amendment basically is unnecessary because the Mine Safety and Health Administration acted on July 24 to suspend the proposed rule referred to in the Rahall amendment. I do not know the legal mumbo-jumbo, I just know they have absolutely postponed this rule for very good reasons. If we pass this amendment, it is not going to allow us, perhaps, to write a rule that involves the new technology that could be the technology that saves a lot of lives. This amendment carries with it certain unintended consequences that is going to run counter to the interests of promoting workers' health. MSHA made the decision to postpone the implementation of the rule because of the first field test of new coal dust technology, called personal dust monitors, PDMs, which are very expensive and could be very life-saving for miners. These tests showed such genuine promise that MSHA concluded that additional tests were needed before moving forward with the proposed rule.”