OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Workplace Violence

Floor Speech

By: Ro Khanna
By: Ro Khanna
Date: June 14, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Employment and Affirmative Action

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Mr. KHANNA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to share a sad story of what happens when we do not value our workers' safety.

Cynthia Palomata was a nurse from the bay area who worked in the county jail. She complained to her supervisors that her work area had insufficient lighting for reviewing paperwork. Rather than updating the lighting system or providing her with a secured light fixture, she was given a common desk lamp. One day, she was treating a patient, and when her back was turned, the patient grabbed the lamp and hit her over the head, knocking her into a coma. She never woke up.

Every year, thousands of Americans are killed while at work, more than 4,000 in 2015 alone. That is why we have introduced, on a bipartisan basis, the Healthcare Workplace Violence Prevention Act, to stop tragedies like Cynthia's from ever taking place again. It is bipartisan and it is common sense.

The bill requires facilities to create violence prevention plans that address all levels of safety. Healthcare and social service workers face high risk.

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