Political Quotes

“we are being forced to vote today on this resolution of disapproval for OSHA's ergonomic standard. This is an all or nothing approach. Our effort to bring about improved ergonomics for our nation's workers was started by Elizabeth Dole when she was George Bush, Sr.'s Secretary of Labor ten years ago. What we are attempting to address is the single largest workplace safety and health problem in the United States: the work-related stress and strain injury and disorders that cost the economy over $50 billion every year. Employers pay between $15 and $18 billion in worker's compensation costs alone for these injuries. We can do something about it. The National Academy of Science backs the scientific basis for OSHA ergonomic standards. An exhaustive 2-year study conducted by 19 experts in the field found that there is a direct relationship between the workplace and ergonomic injuries, and ergonomic injuries can be significantly reduced through workplace interventions. Now the Republican leadership wants to ignore the very study it mandated. It is the wrong step to just overturn this rule. We need to take action to protect the health and safety of working families. The OSHA standard is only 9 pages long, and it is written in plain English. To serve the needs of our workers as well as to prudently address costs and benefits, I urge a no vote on the resolution of disapproval for the ergonomics rule.”