Kudos for NORA

NORA has received broad support from many quarters. The following examples are from May 1999 through February 2000.

The Committee is encouraged with the progress by NIOSH on implementing the National Occupational Research Agenda [NORA]. The Committee is supportive of NIOSH's efforts to further its partnerships with the occupational safety and health community and the broader public and private public health research community, and believes these partnerships will be important in the implementation phase. The Committee urges NIOSH to work with its partners to augment resources available to the Institute for NORA research.

- Senate Appropriations Report Language, FY 2000


NORA initiatives are so important because they base themselves on the kinds of interactions that will have to become central issues for our society as the next century begins.... NORA is a prototype for these kinds of initiatives.

- Kenneth Shine, M.D., President, Institute of Medicine,

National Academy of Sciences


This country is making a transition into a new economy ... an economy that will present all of us with a whole new series of workplace health hazards to overcome. In my judgement, NORA is absolutely essential to how we are going to take on these kinds of issues . . . . From its [NORA's] beginnings, NIOSH and its partners have understood that a prerequisite to making workplaces safer in this new economy is making sure that no one is left out of the decision making process. That's really the genius of NORA. . . . I've encouraged all my staff to use NORA as a model for building strong research partnerships.

- Donna Shalala, Ph.D., Secretary, U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services


By coming together with others who care about the costs of occupational injuries and illnesses, both in human and economic terms, we all benefit. It is also important that NORA's agenda emphasize not only medical problems but the social and economic concerns also. At the Building and Construction Trades Department, representing more than three million workers, . . . we are very proud to be partners in NORA.

- Robert Georgine, President, Building and Construction

Trades Department, AFL-CIO


The highpoint of the year, if not of NAPA's 44-year history, was the day in April when NAPA received the first NORA Award, bestowed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for the initiative that put engineering controls on asphalt pavers.

- Mike Acott, President, National Asphalt Paving

Association