[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 28, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              COMMEMORATING THE 2010 WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JOE COURTNEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 28, 2010

  Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise. today to join the millions of 
men and women across our country that will stand in silence today to 
honor the memory of those individuals who have lost their lives or have 
been injured on the job. Today, April 28, 2010, is Workers' Memorial 
Day, a day created by the AFL-CIO and its membership, on which we honor 
all working men and women in this country for their sacrifice and 
dedication.
  The first Workers' Memorial Day was celebrated in the United States 
on April 28, 1989. The date was chosen because it was the anniversary 
of the establishment of the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration (OSHA). Since its inception, OSHA has worked to protect 
employees on job sites across the country. While OSHA has done a great 
deal to protect the safety and interests of workers, more must be done 
to protect workers and hold accountable those employers who fail to 
ensure the safety of their employees.
  This years' Workers' Memorial Day has a special significance for 
those of us in Connecticut. It was a little more than two months ago 
that on February 7, 2010, 6 workers lost their lives and another 26 
were injured when an explosion occurred at the Kleen Energy plant in 
Middletown, CT. This horrific accident should never have happened and 
it is the responsibility of each and every one of us to not only honor 
the memory of those that were lost, but to ensure that such a tragedy 
never happens again.
  Madam Speaker, I ask that all my colleagues join me and working men 
and women around the country in remembering the men and women who have 
been killed or injured on the job and to honor the families whom have 
lost so much.

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