THE NEEDLESTICK SAFETY AND PREVENTION ACT -- (Extensions of Remarks -
October 05, 2000)
[Page: E1685]
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SPEECH OF
HON. NANCY PELOSI
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, October 3, 2000
- Ms. PELOSI. Madam Speaker, we are here today because needlestick related
health problems are costly and preventable. H.R. 5178, the Needlestick Safety
and Prevention Act, will protect our Nation's health care providers from
unnecessary health risks.
- Each year, between 600,000 and 800,000 health care workers are
accidentally stuck by needles. As a result, over 1,000 of these injured
workers go on to contract HIV, hepatitis B, or hepatitis C, and over 100
eventually die from their illness. Even those who are fortunate enough not to
be infected by one of these diseases must suffer through 6 months of waiting
before they and their families know that they are healthy.
- This suffering can be avoided. Studies have shown that over 80 percent of
needlestick injuries are avoidable. Passage of the Needlestick Safety and
Prevention Act will require a strong national standard to prevent needlestick
injuries, and will empower OSHA to increase the usage of safer
needles.
- These changes will reduce not only the suffering of injured providers and
their families, but also the costs that hospitals must absorb each time a
needlestick occurs. The post-exposure treatments that every injured worker
have cost up to $3,000. My home State of California was the first State to
pass this legislation, and estimates are that we will save over $100 million
each year as a result.
- Unfortunately, this legislation will be too late for many health care
providers. Peggy Ferro, a health care worker in my district in San Francisco,
was the first health care provider to pass away from AIDS as a result of a
needlestick. She died at the young age of 49, while still fighting for passage
of the legislation that we are debating today.
- Although this legislation has not been passed soon enough to help Peggy,
we can honor her memory by ensuring that safer needle technology is used in
health facilities. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on H.R. 5178.
END