[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 66 (Thursday, April 24, 2008)]
[House]
[Page H2662]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
(Mr. HARE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, April 28 marks the 20th annual Workers
Memorial Day. I rise with other members of the Labor and Working Family
Caucus to acknowledge the millions of workers who have been killed or
injured on the job.
Since 1970, OSHA has been a driving force in improving workplace
safety across the country. However, the Bush administration has sought
to downsize the agency. A weakened OSHA has real life-or-death
consequences for workers, such as Cintas employee Eleazar Torres-Gomez
who died last year when he was dragged into an industrial dryer.
Mr. Torres-Gomez's fate is, unfortunately, too common. Sixteen
workers die every day in our country from work-related injuries.
Last year, along with Representative Lynn Woolsey, I introduced the
Protecting America's Workers Act, which amends OSHA to cover more
workers, and strengthens protections and accountability. During Workers
Memorial Week, the best way to honor our workers is to quickly send
this bill to the President's desk.
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