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“IN RECOGNITION OF WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E691 on April 27, 2012.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF WORKERS' MEMORIAL DAY
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HON. LAURA RICHARDSON
of california
in the house of representatives
Friday, April 27, 2012
Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to observe April 28 as Workers' Memorial Day and to commemorate all the workers who have suffered or died from workplace injury and disease. April 28 marks a day of solidarity with workers around the world and of renewed commitment to occupational safety and health.
Since the creation of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in 1970, the safety and rights of workers has become a high priority. Workplace fatalities have dropped by 65 percent. We have made significant progress in protecting Americans' right to a safe and healthy workplace. However, we can and must do more to protect our workers and hold accountable employers who do not comply with safety standards and regulations. Even one death or injury is one too many.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 3.3 million people in the United States suffer a workplace injury each year, and 12 Americans are killed each day on the job. The direct and indirect costs of these occupational injuries in the year 2010 alone are estimated to fall between $159 and $318 billion. The sad truth is that these injuries and deaths are entirely preventable.
As a proud member of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, I have strongly supported legislation to protect the safety and wellbeing of American workers and their families. I was a cosponsor of the ``Protecting America's Workers Act,'' which would increase protections for whistle-blowers, increase the penalties for certain violations, and give more rights to injured workers. I have opposed any effort to repeal, delay, or weaken the enactment of any health and safety standards.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join workers and union members across the country in recognizing Workers' Memorial Day and keeping in mind its slogan: ``Remember the dead, fight for the living.'' On this day, I would like to honor those who have lost their lives simply by going to work and their families who have sacrificed so much.
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