[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 34 (Thursday, March 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E352]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     THE WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT

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                           HON. HENRY BONILLA

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 4, 1999

  Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of The Workplace 
Preservation Act. This bill forces OSHA live up to its promises of 
protecting workers. Despite its claims to the contrary, OSHA's recently 
proposed ergonomics regulation is not aimed at protecting workers, it's 
aimed at protecting bureaucrats.
  Most people would agree that it is impossible to treat an ailment 
when you do not know what the ailment is. But that is exactly what OSHA 
is doing. Scientific and medical experts do not know what causes 
repetitive stress injuries, much less how to treat them. That is why 
the National Academy of Sciences has agreed to study the issue of 
repetitive stress injuries and any possible link they may have to the 
workplace.
  Once this panel of experts concludes its studies--then, and only 
then--will the Federal Government be able to fully examine this issue. 
How can the Federal Government effectively regulate a situation that 
the experts do not understand? Apparently, OSHA thinks it knows better 
than the medical and scientific experts.
  Despite the fact that the physicians and scientists do not fully 
understand the issue of ergonomics, despite the fact that the courts 
have ruled that OSHA is using junk science--OSHA is moving full steam 
ahead toward issuing one of the most sweeping labor laws in history. 
Instead of letting the scientists examine the facts, OSHA is dictating 
its own agenda. American workers should not pay the price for OSHA's 
mistakes.




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