[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 38 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       SMALL BUSINESS PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1998

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                               speech of

                           HON. LOUIS STOKES

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 1998

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3310) to 
     amend chapter 35 of title 44, United States Code, for the 
     purpose of facilitating compliance by small businesses with 
     certain Federal paperwork requirements, and to establish a 
     task force to examine the feasibility of streamlining 
     paperwork requirements applicable to small businesses:

  Mr. STOKES. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to H.R. 3310, the 
Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1998. One of the 
purposes of the original Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 was to promote 
prompt dissemination of public information for major Federal agencies 
which depend on vital information from businesses. However, the 
proposed amendments will indirectly contradict the original intent.
  Although I support the financial relief offered to small businesses 
in this bill, it would open the door for willful mistakes that would 
put various elements of Government control and worker safety at a 
disadvantage. For example, the Pension and Welfare Benefits 
Administration [PWBA] which depends on reports to ensure proper 
investing to secure our retirement savings for the future. This bill 
will weaken the ability of PWBA to protect workers' benefits by 
undermining current disclosure requirements. Another agency that would 
be adversely affected is the Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA] 
which uses business reports in order to detect drug trafficking. This 
bill would jeopardize reporting requirements that could provide 
evidence of criminal activity. Our Immigration Department relies on 
employers to file reports to monitor the hiring of illegal immigrants.
  H.R. 3310 would weaken the ability of Federal agencies to receive 
vital information by making it easier for companies to bypass their 
responsibility to provide basic statistics needed for regulatory 
purposes.
  In addition to the adverse effects this bill will have on Government 
regulations, it also places millions of American workers at risk by 
undermining the hard work of unions across America which have been 
successful in promoting the safety and health for workers in mines, 
factories, and other workplaces. These amendments would erode hard-
fought protections that have played a significant role in the decreased 
deaths of workers.
  Mr. Speaker, businesses have an obligation to adhere to governmental 
regulations that protect workers and the American people by building a 
healthy society which ultimately benefit businesses.
  I strongly support our small businesses as they are fundamental to 
the well being of our society, however, I do not support putting 
American workers at physical risk by removing penalties for ignoring 
the law. I urge my colleagues to defeat this bill.

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