Rep. John Kline (R-MN), the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee’s senior Republican member, issued the following statement today following the committee’s vote on a partisan proposal that pairs mining reforms with controversial changes to the Occupational Safety and Health Act - proposals overwhelmingly opposed by job-creators because of their potential to drive up litigation costs, add workplace uncertainty, and make it more difficult for small businesses to create jobs in a struggling economy:
“Republicans remain committed to the health and safety of all workers, and in the aftermath of the tragic events at Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch mine, it is clear more action to improve miner safety must be considered. Responsible reforms to miner safety should be informed by the facts regarding what caused the explosion at Upper Big Branch.
“Numerous investigations are now underway that, in the coming months, will answer important questions and shine a bright light on the changes needed to better protect miners. The rush to legislate without all the facts misses a critical opportunity to put the safety of miners first.
“While there are very real concerns about this approach to mine safety, far more troubling is the bill’s extreme reach into other workplaces unrelated to the dangers of underground mining. Burdening virtually every American workplace with more government and new layers of federal regulation will lead to even greater economic uncertainty and a more adversarial relationship between employers and government regulators.
“This legislation upends decades of policies and practices employers and their workers have come to rely upon, which will result in costly litigation and a climate that makes it more difficult to create jobs. These concerns are shared by hundreds of organizations representing job creators from across the country.
“Despite the flawed approach taken in the Democrats’ bill, we have a responsibility to work together to improve mine safety. That is why Republicans offered a proposal focused on key issues Congress can consider now to modernize and reform mine safety laws and practices. Our alternative is based on ideas on which we can all agree - an approach that puts miner safety at the forefront of our efforts while recognizing the most effective mine safety reforms will come when the investigations are complete and the facts surrounding the Upper Big Branch mine explosion can inform sound policy reforms."
Note: The Republican proposal represents a preliminary effort to enhance miner safety based on widely agreed upon weaknesses in the application and enforcement of current law. The Republican plan, among other provisions, will enhance miner safety by strengthening MSHA’s enforcement authority and holding the agency accountable, identifying and punishing bad actors, and modernizing mine safety standards to ensure miners have latest technology to better ensure their safety.
