[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 114 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT

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                               speech of

                          HON. ROBERT A. BRADY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 3, 1999

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 987) to 
     require the Secretary of Labor to wait for completion of a 
     National Academy of Sciences study before promulgating a 
     study or guideline on ergonomics:

  Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this 
measure and to all attempts to prevent America's workers from safer 
working conditions.
  I am amazed by what I have heard in this debate today. First, I heard 
that this is not a partisan debate. It most certainly is--just check 
the vote totals once we're done.
  Then, I heard that we can trust business to take care of its workers. 
If it did, we would not need collective bargaining--grievance 
procedures--or even the many studies the other side of the aisle keeps 
asking for. It is the unions in the workplace that take care of 
employees, not management.
  Mr. Speaker, I know what I'm talking about. I came from the ranks of 
labor. Who was it that protected me when I was working on a scaffold? 
Who looked out for me to make sure I made an honest days pay for an 
honest day's work? It was the union, that's who!
  Now, I also heard that Congress wants what is best for America's 
workers. If that's true, Congress should listen to the unions that were 
duly elected to represent those workers. They are totally opposed to 
this bill.
  I urge my colleagues to listen to the workers voices and vote against 
this bill.

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