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“WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E669-E670 on April 30, 2002.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY
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HON. DENNIS MOORE
of kansas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Mr. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday, April 28, 2002, American workers across the nation recognized the significant contributions of American labor to the founding and growth of our country. Every year, Workers Memorial Day gives working men and women an opportunity to acknowledge labor's great achievements and promote much needed improvements in working conditions.
While decades of hard work and struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in vast improvements in working conditions, the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains unacceptably high. According to recent figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 5,915 workers died from on-the-job injuries in 2000, while an additional 50,000 to 60,000 workers die each year from occupation-related injuries and diseases. Another 6 million workers sustain serious injuries every year while at work.
Workers Memorial Day is held on April 28 to commemorate the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration [OSHA], which has dedicated itself to reducing workplace injuries since its inception in 1971. Over the past three decades, workplace fatalities have been cut in half and occupational injury and illness rates have declined 40%. At the same time, U.S. employment has doubled from 56 million workers at 3.5 million worksites to 6 million workers at approximately 7 million sites.
I believe our country must do even more to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses. Congress can and should dedicate itself to achieving these goals by passing common sense and long overdue ergonomics legislation. Unfortunately, last year Congress passed a Disapproval Resolution that overturned the Clinton Administration's sensible ergonomics rule. President Bush signed this resolution into law in March 2001, and the Bush Administration recently announced its plans to push for voluntary ergonomics standards.
The ergonomics guidelines developed during the Clinton Administration were developed after years of studies and analyses, and were based upon sound science. I disapprove of Congress's elimination of the important rule designed to identify and remove hazards to workers' health, and will continue to urge my colleagues to pass legislation requiring the Department of Labor to draft a meaningful ergonomics standard.
As we remember the millions of workers who have sustained injuries and, in many cases, died as a result of workplace hazards, members of Congress and working Americans must continue to fight for stronger safety and health protections for workers everywhere. Working men and women deserve these protections, and have certainly earned them. While we celebrate Workers Memorial Day once a year, we must dedicate ourselves to improving safety and health in every American workplace on a daily basis.
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