WASHINGTON, D.C. ?EUR??,,????'??+ Anita Drummond, director of legal and regulatory affairs for Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc. (ABC), testified before the House Education and Workforce Committee?EUR??,,????'???s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Sept. 17, 2003. She expressed ABC?EUR??,,????'???s support for H.R. 2731, the Occupational Safety and Health Small Employer Access to Justice Act of 2003.

H.R. 2731, introduced by Rep. Charles Norwood (R-Ga.) in July 2003, is intended to help small business owners when they are cited by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The bill would allow the award of costs and attorney?EUR??,,????'???s fees to small businesses when the companies are successful in defending themselves against OSHA citations.

Drummond expressed ABC?EUR??,,????'???s recommendation that the bill be amended to include a provision that assures awards for costs and attorney fees be directly reimbursed from OSHA?EUR??,,????'???s budget.

?EUR??,,????'??The costs of defense are particularly harmful to small businesses, like many ABC member firms, that lack the resources to defend against unreasonable prosecution,?EUR??,,????'?? asserted Ms. Drummond.