[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 121 (Monday, September 26, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10435-S10436]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. ENZI (for himself and Mr. Kennedy):
  S. 1771. A bill to express the sense of Congress and to improve 
reporting with respect to the safety of workers in the response and 
recovery activities related to Hurricane Katrina, and for other 
purposes; read the first time.
  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce The Katrina Worker 
Safety and Filing Flexibility Act of 2005.
  In the wake of Hurricane Katrina we face a nearly unprecedented 
recovery and reconstruction process along our Gulf Coast. This is a 
challenge that we will meet. We are a people that always act with 
strength and purposefulness when circumstances such as this demand.
  While we undertake this massive effort, we must bear in mind the 
safety of the men and women who will be on the front lines of recovery 
and reconstruction. These individuals will face numerous and uncommon 
worksite hazards; and ones with which they will have little training 
and experience.
  To address this situation, the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration has deployed its safety and health professionals to the 
affected areas to provide necessary technical assistance. Their efforts 
in this regard are being guided by the Worker Health and Safety Annex 
contained in the National Response Plan as adopted by the Department of 
Homeland Security.
  I am pleased today to be introducing this legislation with my 
distinguished colleague and ranking member of the Committee, Senator 
Kennedy. He and I share a commitment to protecting the health and 
safety of all workers, including those engaged in the hurricane 
recovery effort.

[[Page S10436]]

  The legislation we are introducing today not only encourages the 
implementation of all aspects of the Worker Safety Annex, it encourages 
OSHA to play a central role in communicating the nature of these unique 
worksite hazards, and in cooperating with State, local and tribal 
governments, as well as other Federal agencies to enhance the safety of 
recovery and reconstruction personnel. In addition, the legislation 
grants the Secretary of Labor authority to extend the deadline for 
filing certain forms with the Department until March of 2006 in light 
of the difficulties in meeting any earlier deadlines as a result of the 
hurricane.
  We believe the bill is an important step in providing the necessary 
protection to recovery and reconstruction workers; and providing the 
necessary degree of flexibility with regard to required Federal 
filings.
  Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, today Senator Enzi and I are introducing 
legislation to protect the workers who are laboring to clean up the 
Gulf Coast after its recent disasters.
  The heroism of America's workers in the wake of Hurricane Katrina is 
unparalleled. As they did in response to our national disaster on 
September 11, thousands of men and women have been working around the 
clock to find and rescue families, to provide them with food and 
shelter, and to evacuate them from the area. In the coming days 
thousands more will be on the ground reestablishing communications, 
cleaning up debris, restoring services, and rebuilding infrastructure. 
They are now facing additional challenges because of the new damage and 
flooding from Hurricane Rita, but they continue to make progress in 
cleaning and rebuilding New Orleans and the entire disaster area.
  This work is critical, but it is also dangerous. Many of these tasks 
pose significant safety and health threats: conditions in New Orleans 
are of particular concern, where the widespread flooding has led to 
widespread biological and chemical contamination. We learn more each 
day about the oil spills, the Superfund sites, and exposure to E. coli 
that these workers are facing. It is imperative that workers and 
volunteers be protected from these serious hazards.
  That is why our legislation includes language to protect the health 
and safety of workers. It urges OSHA and other health and safety 
agencies to follow the Worker Health and Safety Annex protections of 
our National Response Plan. This includes keeping track of workers who 
are being exposed, coordinating health and safety training for workers 
and volunteers, and monitoring the hazards that workers and volunteers 
are facing. It also authorizes funds to be spent for additional 
personnel, enforcement of health and safety standards, critical safety 
information for workers and employers, and safety and health training. 
I hope that as Congress continues to allocate money for disaster relief 
that we also provide money to protect our workers and volunteers.
  We need to track how our efforts are working, and so we have provided 
for Congressional oversight. OSHA will be required to brief the HELP 
Committee in six months, and provide a written report within nine 
months, so we can see what progress has been made and what still needs 
to be done. We have also mandated oversight by the Executive Branch. 
The Inspector General of the Department of Labor will audit and 
investigate the Department's efforts to implement the protections 
established in this bill, and will report back to both Houses of 
Congress on the success of these response and recovery efforts.
  Finally, the bill also provides temporary relief to many companies, 
unions and individuals who are required to meet financial and other 
reporting obligations during the next few months, but cannot satisfy 
these obligations due to record destruction and other problems 
associated with Katrina.
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