Edward M. Kennedy: “Mr. President, I would like to comment very briefly on a couple of matters that have been raised by some in the Chamber…”

“Mr. President, I would like to comment very briefly on a couple of matters that have been raised by some in the Chamber this afternoon as issues which should give some pause to support this nomination. My good friend, Senator Nickles, was pointing out that Mr. Gould supported legislation to require joint safety and health committees to develop cooperation between employers and employees to deal with the issue of health and safety in the workplace. It is true that we have legislation before our committee to require this. But this is a process now which is already followed in a number of States, including the State of Washington and the State of Oregon, and the business communities in those States have been wholly enthusiastic in support of that concept. What we have seen in those States has been a significant reduction in workmen's compensation and lost time from workplace injury and illness, increased safety, and less regulation imposed on many of those industries.”