CONGRESSWOMAN LINDA SÁNCHEZ' STATEMENT ON WORKER'S MEMORIAL DAY
April 24, 2008

WASHINGTON, DC -- Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Lakewood), Co-Chair of the Congressional Labor and Working Families Caucus, gave the following statement on the floor of the House of Representatives today in honor of Workers Memorial Day. Workers Memorial Day, which coincides with the anniversary of the creation of OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, commemorates all workers who were killed, inured, or made ill on the job each year.

“I rise this morning to honor the thousands of American workers injured, sickened, and killed each year in this nation.

“Next Monday, April 28, is Workers Memorial Day, dedicated to remembering workers whose lives are lost on the job.

“Sixteen workers are killed on the job every day in America. Every. Day.

“And these are not just workers in highly dangerous professions, but workers from every profession you can imagine, from mechanics to teachers to newspaper carriers.

“Instead of addressing this crisis in worker safety, the Bush Administration continues to underfund the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, OSHA.

“Like an old dog who’s lost its teeth, OSHA doesn’t scare anyone. It hasn’t improved safety and it doesn’t protect workers.

“Today, I stand with families who have lost loved ones on the job.

“Tomorrow, I continue working with my colleagues in the Labor and Working Families Caucus to strengthen OSHA.

“American workers deserve to be safe while earning a living and contributing to this great country. And we must do more to ensure they are safe.”