On Workers’ Memorial Day, Murray Calls for Critical Protections to Make Workplaces Safer and Healthier
On Workers’ Memorial Day, Murray calls for Congress to support the Protecting America’s Workers Act
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee delivered remarks on the Senate floor on Workers’ Memorial Day to remember those who have lost their lives on the job, and called on Congress to improve safety protections at workplaces across the country. Murray urged her colleagues to support the Protecting America’s Workers Act which was introduced by Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and would update the Occupational Safety and Health Act to make workplaces across America safer and healthier.
Key excerpts from Senator Murray’s remarks:
“An important part of this is making sure workers have access to a safe and healthy workplace and the basic protection of earning a living without fearing for their safety… That effort takes on special meaning today. April 28th is Workers’ Memorial Day – the day we remember those who lost their lives just for doing their job.”
“We need to do everything we can to make sure employers are taking the necessary precautions to keep workers safe. So today, let’s keep the families and communities that have suffered from these losses in our thoughts. And let’s make this Workers Memorial Day about recommitting ourselves to improving safety protections at workplaces across the country.”
“…the Protecting America’s Workers Act is a long-overdue update to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. And it is a good step toward making workplaces across America safer and healthier.“
“…Today, I urge my colleagues to reflect on the workers who lost their lives in the past year. And I’m hopeful we can honor their legacy by working together to pass the Protecting America’s Workers Act—make these common-sense updates to meet our obligations to the best workforce the world over, and continue our work growing the economy from the middle out, not the top down.”
Full text of Senator Murray’s remarks:
“Thank you, M. President. I believe we in Congress should be working together to grow the economy from the middle out, not the top down. And we should make sure that our government is working for all families, not just the wealthiest few.
“An important part of this is making sure workers have access to a safe and healthy workplace and the basic protection of earning a living without fearing for their safety.
“M. President, that effort takes on special meaning today. April 28th is Workers Memorial Day – the day we remember those who lost their lives just for doing their job.
“When a worker is injured or killed on the job, it has devastating impacts for their families and their communities. In 2013, more than 4,500 workers were killed on the job. That’s more than 12 deaths every single day.
“We need to do everything we can to make sure employers are taking the necessary precautions to keep workers safe. So today, let’s keep the families and communities that have suffered from these losses in our thoughts. And let’s make this Workers Memorial Day about recommitting ourselves to improving safety protections at workplaces across the country.
“M. President, every worker in every industry should have basic worker protections. While workers are doing their jobs, employers should be doing everything they can to protect them.
“In 1970, Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act to protect workers from unsafe working conditions. That law finally gave workers some much-needed protections so they could earn a living without sacrificing their health and safety.
“Since then, American industry has changed significantly. Businesses have become more complex. Workers are performing 21st century tasks. But we are still using a 1970s approach to protect employees. That doesn’t make sense, and it needs to change.
“M. President, I support the bill Senator Franken has introduced today called the Protecting America’s Workers Act. I want to note that Senator Franken is the new ranking member of the HELP Subcommittee on Employment and Workforce Safety. In that role, he will bring a focus and a passion for moving this legislation forward, and I look forward to working with him to that end.
“Because, the Protecting America’s Workers Act is a long-overdue update to the Occupational Safety and Health Act. And it is a good step toward making workplaces across America safer and healthier.
“It would increase protections for workers who report unsafe working conditions. Adding these whistleblower protections will protect workers from retaliation.
“And this bill will make sure workers have the option to appeal to federal courts if they are being mistreated for telling the truth about dangerous practices.
“This bill will also improve reporting, inspection, and enforcement of workplace health and safety violations.
“It expands the rights of victims of unsafe workplaces, and it makes sure that employers quickly improve unsafe workplaces to avoid further endangering worker health and safety. Because we owe it to all workers to make sure they are truly protected on the job.
“M. President, our economy is finally recovering after the worst downturn since the Great Depression. We’re not all the way back yet, and there is still so much more that needs to be done to create jobs and help the middle class and working families. But while we continue this work, we must also recommit to our bedrock responsibilities to workers and their safety.
“Workers should be able to go to work confident that their employers are doing their part to provide safe and healthy workplaces. And they should know that their government is looking out for them, their families, and their economic security.
“So M. President, today, I urge my colleagues to reflect on the workers who lost their lives in the past year. And I’m hopeful we can honor their legacy by working together to pass the Protecting America’s Workers Act—make these common-sense updates to meet our obligations to the best workforce the world over, and continue our work growing the economy from the middle out, not the top down.
“Thank you, M. President. I yield the floor.”
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