James M. Talent: “I think this amendment highlights the philosophical differences between the parties. We believe in Americans and what…”

“I think this amendment highlights the philosophical differences between the parties. We believe in Americans and what they have built on their own. We think workers and employers, subject to reasonable rules and regulations, are pretty capable of creating jobs and economic growth and not helpless and unable to protect their own safety. The other side believes that we are going to have massive problems, unless these people are minutely watched by an agency whose record is largely unblemished by success, and I refer to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Mr. Chairman, I want to talk specifically about the fall protection standard, which is in this bill and on which there were hearings in my subcommittee. The fall protection standard OSHA recently applied to all work above 6 feet in height, it was at 16 feet, they applied it to all work above 16 feet, which means it applies to all residential remodeling, all residential roofing, and, Mr. Chairman, everybody in this business, management, labor, everybody hates it because the workers have to tie on these harnesses and these lanyards and move anchors. It is tremendously inefficient, and it is unnecessary, and they resent the Federal Government telling them, experts in this, what they have to do in order to protect themselves.”