[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 99 (Thursday, June 14, 2018)]
[House]
[Page H5163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

  (Mr. KHANNA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KHANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a sad story of what 
happens when we do not value our workers' safety.
  Cynthia Palomata was a nurse from the bay area who worked in the 
county jail. She complained to her supervisors that her work area had 
insufficient lighting for reviewing paperwork. Rather than updating the 
lighting system or providing her with a secured light fixture, she was 
given a common desk lamp. One day, she was treating a patient, and when 
her back was turned, the patient grabbed the lamp and hit her over the 
head, knocking her into a coma. She never woke up.
  Every year, thousands of Americans are killed while at work, more 
than 4,000 in 2015 alone. That is why we have introduced, on a 
bipartisan basis, the Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention Act, to 
stop tragedies like Cynthia's from ever taking place again. It is 
bipartisan and it is common sense.
  The bill requires facilities to create violence prevention plans that 
address all levels of safety. Healthcare and social service workers 
face high risk.

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