OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006

Date: June 23, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Labor Unions Health and Health Care Education


DEPARTMENTS OF LABOR, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, AND EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006 -- (House of Representatives - June 23, 2005)

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Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of the amendment offered by my friend and colleague from New York.

As public officials, we face many difficult decisions. This issue should not be one.

The amendment before us this morning would strike a provision in this bill that bans OSHA from conducting fit tests of the respirator masks worn by our first responders.

These masks are crucial to the survival of our first responders and it is only common sense that these masks must fit properly to perform as expected.

We would never ask our soldiers on the battlefield to go into combat with equipment that mayor may not perform as expected. Our first responders who are our domestic defenders deserve the same treatment.

We must do everything we can to help those who sacrifice so much to protect us.

Only yesterday, a group of 80 arms control and security experts released a survey commissioned by Senator LUGAR of Indiana which says that they believe there is a 70 percent chance of a WMD attack in the next 10 years.

We all agree that we should focus our efforts on preventing any future WMD attack, but we must ensure that our first responders are adequately protected should an attack take place.

I strongly support the amendment offered by Mr. OWENS and urge my colleagues to do the same.

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