[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 30, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E805]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     IN HONOR OF ROBERT R. SNASHALL

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. THOMAS M. REYNOLDS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 29, 2003

  Mr. REYNOLDS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a good 
friend and an outstanding public servant.
  There's no doubt that in my home state of New York, there remain to 
this day many unsung heroes who provided aid, comfort and support to 
the victims of September 11th's vicious and cowardly attacks on New 
York. Ordinary people rose to extraordinary challenges and through 
their service, helped both in the rescue and recovery of a great city.
  One of those unsung heroes is the man I rise to honor today, Robert 
R. Snashall, Chairman of the state's Workers' Compensation Board. First 
appointed to that post by Governor George Pataki in 1995, Chairman 
Snashall will soon retire from that post.
  And perhaps the defining moment of Mr. Snashall's tenure at the 
Workers' Compensation Board was in his handling of the crisis arising 
from the September 11th terror attacks in New York City.
  The attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 created 
unprecedented challenges for the Workers' Compensation Board. In a 
single day, New York suffered 5 years' worth of workers' compensation 
death claims. In fast response, Chairman Snashall and the Workers' 
Compensation Board established new regulations to accelerate the 
processing of claims and created a special World Trade Center 
adjudication team to process claims emanating from the terror attacks 
while enabling the Board to maintain a focus on other claims from 
across the state.
  Chairman Snashall acted quickly to contact and in some cases visit 
various insurers, legislators, claimant organizations and employer 
associations to discuss the challenges facing the workers' compensation 
system as a result of the attacks. In doing so, he was successful in 
impressing upon the various parties of interest the urgency of 
providing assistance to the families in need. As a result the Board 
has, to date, fully resolved 92 percent of death claims, 80 percent of 
injury claims and has conducted more than 7,000 hearings to resolve WTC 
claims.
  Since 1995, the Workers' Compensation Board has undergone the most 
sweeping reforms in the history of the Board including the landmark 
1996 reforms, which have led to unprecedented reductions in workers' 
compensation costs. In addition, since 1996, under the leadership of 
Chairman Snashall, the Board has reformed its administrative processes 
and become more accessible to the people of New York State.
  Through Bob Snashall's leadership, New York State's Workers' 
Compensation Board has become a nationwide model, and I ask that this 
Congress join me in saluting his commitment, leadership and hard work; 
and that this Honorable Body further extend to him our thanks for a job 
well done.

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