[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 71 (Thursday, May 1, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E790]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        SUPPORTING THE MISSION AND GOALS OF WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. PHIL HARE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 30, 2008

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 
1154, supporting the mission and goals of Workers Memorial Day, and 
commend my colleague, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson for 
introducing this important resolution.
  Just 2 days ago on April 28th we honored the 20th Annual Workers 
Memorial Day, when people all over the world gathered to remember the 
workers who have been killed or injured on the job.
  April 28th also commemorated the creation of the Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration (OSHA). Since 1970, OSHA has been a driving 
force in improving workplace safety and health conditions across the 
country. However, the Bush administration has sought to stifle that 
progress by downsizing OSHA, favoring employer voluntary programs over 
real enforcement.
  A weakened OSHA has real life-or-death consequences for American 
workers. One such worker is Cintas washroom employee Eleazar Torres-
Gomez--father of four--who was killed on March 6, 2007 when he was 
dragged by a conveyor belt into an industrial dryer.
  Mr. Torres-Gomez's fate is unfortunately too common--16 workers die 
every day in our country from work-related injuries. In 2005 alone, 
over 5,700 workers were killed at work, and the situation is only 
getting worse. The Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the number of 
workplace deaths jumped by more than two percent between 2005 and 2006.
  Last year, Representative Lynn Woolsey and I, along with Senator Ted 
Kennedy introduced the ``Protecting America's Workers Act,'' which 
amends OSHA to cover more workers, increases penalties and strengthens 
protections and accountability. The best way to honor Mr. Torres-Gomez 
and all the other workers who have been killed at their jobs is to 
quickly send this bill to the President's desk.
  Again, I thank Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson for introducing 
this resolution to honor our workers.

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