[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 97 (Wednesday, June 14, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H5907]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


    SAFETY AND HEALTH IMPROVEMENT AND REGULATORY REFORM ACT OF 1995

  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, today, along with 55 of my colleagues, I 
am introducing the Safety and Health Improvement and Regulatory Reform 
Act of 1995. The legislation will comprehensively change the Federal 
Occupational Safety and Health Act [OSHA]. Few Federal programs are in 
need of change as much as this one.
  I believe that OSHA has become fundamentally misdirected, and instead 
of promoting and encouraging workplace safety and health, OSHA has 
become known for issuing silly regulations and is preoccupied with 
collecting fines from unsuspecting employers. It is time to add some 
common sense to OSHA's regulations and focus on promoting safety in the 
workplace.
  Legislation that I am introducing today targets 50 percent of OSHA's 
funding toward consultation, training, education, and compliance 
assistance programs. Other important changes include adopting the 
regulatory reform measures already approved by the House, and giving 
employers the opportunity to fix alleged safety and health violations 
prior to the issuance of a citation. Finally, to save taxpayer dollars, 
this bill proposes the merger of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration with the Mine Safety and Health Administration--without 
compromising workplace safety.
  I welcome your cosponsorship of this much needed legislation.
  

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