Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Courtney) for introducing this important bipartisan legislation. My amendment to H.R. 1309 is a clarifying amendment to ensure that nothing in this act shall be construed to limit or diminish any existing protections in relevant Federal, State, or local law related to domestic violence, stalking, dating violence, or sexual assault. According to a 2016 OSHA report, approximately 75 percent of the nearly 25,000 workplace assaults reported each year occur in healthcare and social service settings, and workers in healthcare settings are four times more likely to be assaulted at work than workers in other sectors. These cases have led to psychological trauma, not only for the victim, but also for those who have witnessed these attacks, as well as serious injury and even death. {time} 1115 With workplace violence on the rise, it is vital that Congress address this issue to ensure the safety of workers, and that is why this bill is so important. While most incidents of workplace violence fit the definition of simple assault, a study by the Joint Commission showed that sexual assault, rape, and stalking are not uncommon. Approximately 38 States include rape, sexual assault, and stalking in their definition of domestic violence. My amendment makes it clear that nothing in the underlying legislation preempts or diminishes these protections in any way. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 30 percent of U.S.…”