Charles Norwood: “Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2731 is, once again, a narrow measure with a clearly targeted and very specific goal to ensure very…”

“Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2731 is, once again, a narrow measure with a clearly targeted and very specific goal to ensure very small employers the ability to defend themselves against OSHA's superior litigation position when the small employer believes they are right. When dealing with OSHA, we now know many small employers are forced to just simply fold their tent, give up because they simply cannot afford the price of justice. As we all know, OSHA has a vastly superior ability to play the litigation game. OSHA has a team of highly skilled, well-seasoned lawyers at its disposal to pressure a small employer and a fully stocked staff to support their efforts. Maybe even more importantly, they do not have to give any consideration to what the cost of this legal activity may be because they know that the taxpayers of America will pick up all of their costs. That is not even a consideration when they determine to take a small business employer to court, and that is the only determination for a small businessman to defend himself. A small employer, in contrast, has to open up his own personal checkbook, go out and hire legal help, help that most of the time, the kind of employers we are talking about, they simply cannot afford. What is more, OSHA litigation is complex, as demonstrated by the thousands of pages of standards, rules and regulations that OSHA has on the books.”