Cass Ballenger: “I rise in support of the DeLay amendment. In spite of what the opposition says, no one ever died of ergonomics. Today we…”

“I rise in support of the DeLay amendment. In spite of what the opposition says, no one ever died of ergonomics. Today we have the opportunity to say no to the runaway Federal regulators. Earlier this year, in a bipartisan vote, the House passed H.R. 450, which placed a moratorium on all new Federal regulations until December 31, 1995. The passage of this bill and other regulatory reforms was intended to send a signal to Federal departments and agencies to end the production and implementation of countless regulations that strangle competitiveness and economic growth. However, one agency did not get the message, OSHA. Earlier this week, one of the top bureaucrats at OSHA's ergonomics team indicated that the agency will be pushing forward with plans to establish an ergonomics rule, blatantly flouting the will of Congress. Plainly, OSHA wants to continue the practice of business as usual. As chairman of the Subcommittee on Work Force Protection of the Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over OSHA issues, let me tell the Members that the proposal on ergonomics is one of the broadest and most expansive health and safety regulations in recent times. An ergonomics rule has the potential of devastating business and altering every job in America. Let us not forget that the rationales for the ergonomics regulation is not based on sound and strong scientific evidence. There is a clear choice before us today.…”