Statement by Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).
Re: OSHA Teleworker Advisory Opinion.
Date: January 5, 2000.
Source: Office of Rep. Frank Wolf. This document was created by scanning a paper copy, and converting to HTML.

Statement by Rep. Frank R. Wolf
OSHA-Telework Advisory
Press Conference

January 5, 2000

Thank you for being here this morning. My name is Frank Wolf and I represent Virginia's 10th Congressional District, which is part of the Washington Metropolitan Region, the second most traffic congested region in the nation,

Because of the horrendous traffic problems here, we have worked very hard in the Washington Metropolitan Region to promote telework. Telework takes cars off the road and reduces air pollution and traffic congestion. People in this administration are now working to implement a pilot program established through an amendment I offered to the Fiscal Year 2000 transportation appropriations bill to develop an emissions trading program 'in the Washington Metropolitan Region and four other metropolitan regions in the nation for employers who participate in telecommuting. Because of all the progress we have been making to promote telework, I was shocked to read yesterday's news report about a recent Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advisory on telecommuting and the modern-day worksite.

The OSHA advisory would roll back the progress now being made to make telework part of the 21st Century workplace environment.

First let me say that I support a safe and healthy workplace for all employees. However, the recent OSHA advisory would have a chilling effect on telework or telecommuting. The advisory is a low-technology interpretation in a rapidly expanding high-technology society. The advisory ignores the realities of the modem-day workplace.

I want to share with you a letter I have sent to President Clinton asking him to use his executive authority to rescind the OSHA advisory for the following reasons:

First and foremost. telework is important to the family. Families today are under tremendous pressure and face greater challenges than ever before Telework allows working parents the flexibility to meet. these challenges -- Telework allows a mom or dad to spend more time with the family and less time in traffic -- Telework allows parents the ability to spend time with children in after-school activities and other family responsibilities.

Telework also provides people with disabilities more opportunities -- Telework allows a worker caring for a sick child or family member to manage both important responsibilities.

Telework is environmentally friendly and takes cars off the road which means reduced air pollution and traffic congestion,

Employers also benefit from telework. Companies have found that employees who telecommute are more productive, use less sick leave, and have higher retention rates. Employers can reduce costly overhead, such as office and parking space. through telework. Telework is a win-win situation for both employers and employees.

I hope President Clinton will recognize the shortsightedness of the OSHA interpretation and rescind the advisory. However, if that action is not taken. I am prepared to offer an amendment through the appropriations process to effectively eliminate this interpretation, in consultation with Chairman Goodling, Chairman Hoekstra, and Rep. Roy Blunt, who have been diligently monitoring this issue through committee hearings.

We have also been in contact with Chairman Young and he has expressed 100 percent support for including a provision in the an appropriations measure to eliminate the OSHA interpretation.

The OSHA advisory could stop in its tracks the high-technology momentum now sweeping the nation and driving our tremendous economic prosperity. Information technology is providing answers on how to improve our quality of life. The OSHA advisory could be the single greatest threat to advancing telework just days after ringing in the beginning of the 21st Century -- the Information Age."

We are living in a high-technology era. This issue is resonating with so many sectors of our economy which are here today to express their concerns about the OSHA advisory.

I would now like to recognize: