THE WORKPLACE PRESERVATION ACT -- HON. HENRY BONILLA (Extensions of
Remarks - March 04, 1999)
[Page: E352]
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HON. HENRY BONILLA
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 1999
- Mr. BONILLA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of The Workplace
Preservation Act. This bill forces OSHA live up to its promises of protecting
workers. Despite its claims to the contrary, OSHA's recently proposed
ergonomics regulation is not aimed at protecting workers, it's aimed at
protecting bureaucrats.
- Most people would agree that it is impossible to treat an ailment when you
do not know what the ailment is. But that is exactly what OSHA is doing.
Scientific and medical experts do not know what causes repetitive stress
injuries, much less how to treat them. That is why the National Academy of
Sciences has agreed to study the issue of repetitive stress injuries and any
possible link they may have to the workplace.
- Once this panel of experts concludes its studies--then, and only
then--will the Federal Government be able to fully examine this issue. How can
the Federal Government effectively regulate a situation that the experts do
not understand? Apparently, OSHA thinks it knows better than the medical and
scientific experts.
- Despite the fact that the physicians and scientists do not fully
understand the issue of ergonomics, despite the fact that the courts have
ruled that OSHA is using junk science--OSHA is moving full steam ahead toward
issuing one of the most sweeping labor laws in history. Instead of letting the
scientists examine the facts, OSHA is dictating its own agenda. American
workers should not pay the price for OSHA's mistakes.
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