Nancy Kassebaum: “Let me just give you an example. For instance, OSHA is currently working on its indoor air quality regulation that it…”

“Let me just give you an example. For instance, OSHA is currently working on its indoor air quality regulation that it estimates may cost the business community about $8 billion to implement. This indoor air standard, according to OSHA, will prevent some respiratory diseases such as sick building syndrome, which can cause asthma, lung irritation, and other congestion. Yes, that surely is a problem in some workplaces, but we are not talking about putting a price tag on human life necessarily in this instance. We are talking about congestion and irritation, and we are talking about a process that may become so regulatory and burdensome that we might lose the opportunity to have an effectively functioning work force. And we threaten our workers' job security when the burden becomes so onerous to both the business side and the work force side. To its credit, OSHA is now carefully examining that proposed regulation. There has to be a balance. It has to be a positive one. There has to be worker protection through health and safety standards that operate to the benefit of both employer and employee. I would just suggest that this is not the time or the place to undermine the efforts that are in this legislation. I urge my colleagues to defeat the amendment of the Senator from Massachusetts.”