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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
CONTACT: Kate Dwyer
March 7, 2001
(202) 225-3031
 
HOUSE VOTES TO OVERTURN HASTILY ENACTED ERGONOMICS REGULATIONS

WASHINGTON – Citing serious concerns with the way federal ergonomics rules were rushed through by the Clinton Administration late last year, First District Congressman Paul Ryan today voted in favor of a measure to overturn these federal ergonomics rules. The House of Representatives passed the bill to overturn these rules by a vote of 223-206. (The U.S. Senate yesterday voted 56-44 to overturn the regulations.) Ryan expressed serious concerns about the hasty way in which these regulations were put in place.

"I agree with Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao that we need to pursue a comprehensive approach to workplace safety and that the safety and health of our nation's workforce must be a priority. Unfortunately, the way that these extremely important rules were pushed through last year at the eleventh hour of Clinton's presidency was unacceptable.  The final regulations did not come before Congress for a vote, and I don't believe anyone really knows how effective they would be or how large an effect they could have on the economy."

Ryan added: "It would be irresponsible of us to sit back and let these rules take effect without having a very good idea of what they will mean in practice for workers and the business community. In view of current economic conditions, would these new regulations lead to further layoffs and job loss in Southeastern Wisconsin? That question and other questions about the rules' ultimate effectiveness need to be answered before they are put into effect."

Ryan went on to say: "We need to address workplace safety, but not in a way that costs workers their jobs. The new regulations should not ultimately injure the people they are meant to help."

"The ergonomics rule finalized last year would regulate every motion of every work activity in the workplace and would undermine Wisconsin's strong workers' compensation laws," Ryan added. "Labor Secretary Chao has committed to pursuing a comprehensive approach to ergonomics if today's measure (S.J. Res. 6) becomes law."

"I believe the bureaucrats who finalized workplace safety standards late last year had good intentions," said Ryan. "But often in Washington, good intentions can produce harmful results unless the government proceeds carefully, taking all factors into account before it acts. We owe it to the people we represent to take a close look at workplace safety and repetitive stress injuries and pursue solutions from a solid foundation."

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