[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 51 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E669-E670]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. DENNIS MOORE

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 30, 2002

  Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, April 28, 2002, American workers 
across the nation recognized the significant contributions of American 
labor to the founding and growth of our country. Every year, Workers 
Memorial Day gives working men and women an opportunity to acknowledge 
labor's great achievements and promote much needed improvements in 
working conditions.
  While decades of hard work and struggle by workers and their unions 
have resulted in vast improvements in working conditions, the toll of 
workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains unacceptably high. 
According to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,915 
workers died from on-the-job injuries in 2000, while an additional 
50,000 to 60,000 workers die each year from occupation-related injuries 
and diseases. Another 6 million workers sustain serious injuries every 
year while at work.
  Workers Memorial Day is held on April 28 to commemorate the creation 
of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], which has 
dedicated itself to reducing workplace injuries since its inception in 
1971. Over the past three decades, workplace fatalities have been cut 
in half and occupational injury and illness rates have declined 40%. At

[[Page E670]]

the same time, U.S. employment has doubled from 56 million workers at 
3.5 million worksites to 6 million workers at approximately 7 million 
sites.
  I believe our country must do even more to reduce workplace injuries 
and illnesses. Congress can and should dedicate itself to achieving 
these goals by passing common sense and long overdue ergonomics 
legislation. Unfortunately, last year Congress passed a Disapproval 
Resolution that overturned the Clinton Administration's sensible 
ergonomics rule. President Bush signed this resolution into law in 
March 2001, and the Bush Administration recently announced its plans to 
push for voluntary ergonomics standards.
  The ergonomics guidelines developed during the Clinton Administration 
were developed after years of studies and analyses, and were based upon 
sound science. I disapprove of Congress's elimination of the important 
rule designed to identify and remove hazards to workers' health, and 
will continue to urge my colleagues to pass legislation requiring the 
Department of Labor to draft a meaningful ergonomics standard.
  As we remember the millions of workers who have sustained injuries 
and, in many cases, died as a result of workplace hazards, members of 
Congress and working Americans must continue to fight for stronger 
safety and health protections for workers everywhere. Working men and 
women deserve these protections, and have certainly earned them. While 
we celebrate Workers Memorial Day once a year, we must dedicate 
ourselves to improving safety and health in every American workplace on 
a daily basis.

                          ____________________