Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Worker Safety and Health
Better Protections Needed to Regulate Purging of Natural Gas, Witnesses Tell House Panel in Middletown, Conn.
06.28.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The deadly explosion at a Middletown, Conn. power plant under construction could have been prevented if there were clear national safety protections, witnesses told members of Congress today. The Workforce Protections Subcommittee of House Education and Labor Committee convened the forum to hear the cause of the explosion and examine ways to prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.“As unbelievable as this sounds, there is no law, regulation or standard or code, … Continue Reading
Miller, Rahall Demand MMS to Work with OSHA Before Finalizing New Oil Rig Safety Rule
06.25.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, asked the Bureau of Energy (BOE), formerly the Minerals Management Service (MMS), to work with the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in developing a process safety management regulation. Process safety management standards are used to prevent or contain a catastrophic release of hazardous… Continue Reading
Questions Raised on Worker Health and Safety Protections on Offshore Oil Rigs
06.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. -House Education and Labor Committee members today raised serious questions regarding important worker safety protections on offshore oil rigs like the Deepwater Horizon.While the Occupational Safety and Health Administration oversees workplace health and safety within three miles of the U.S. coastline, the United States Coast Guard has the authority to issue worker safety regulations for mobile offshore drilling units the Deepwater Horizon beyond the three mile zone. In additio… Continue Reading
MSHA Knowingly Overlooked Mines With Serious Safety Records, Labor Inspector General Reports to Chairman Miller
06.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General today reported that the agency found serious problems how the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration identifies the nation’s most dangerous mines for tighter scrutiny.U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), Nick Rahall (D-WV), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), and Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) asked the Inspector General in April to investigate MSHA’s procedures after MSHA disclosed that a computer error excluded the Upper Big Branch Mine from b… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Demands BP to Request Assessment of Health Risks to Gulf Clean-up Workers
06.10.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today demanded that BP immediately request an evaluation of clean-up workers’ exposure to hazardous chemicals and working conditions from federal occupational health and safety scientists.“Eleven men lost their lives as a result of this disaster. Everything possible must be done to ensure that no one else does. Protecting every worker responding to the oil spill must become a paramount prior… Continue Reading
Chair Miller Opening Remarks on Testimony from Families of the Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy
05.25.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Below is the opening statement from U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), for yesterday’s field hearing in Beckley, West Virginia on “The Upper Big Branch Mine Tragedy: Testimony of Family Members.” On April 5, an explosion in Massey Energy’s Upper Big Branch Mine in Montcoal, West Virginia killed 29 miners. It was the worst mine disaster in this country in nearly four decades. Read opening statements and listen to audio ***Good morning. I would like to welcome everyone to today’s h… Continue Reading
House Grants Education and Labor Committee Deposition Authority Relating to Mine Health and Safety
05.20.10 WASHINGTON, DC - The U.S. House of Representatives today granted the Education and Labor Committee the authority to compel witnesses to give depositions as part of the committee’s oversight into mine health and safety. “Last month, we watched as the tragic events unfolded at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia. The memory of the 29 miners who lost their lives in that disaster must stand as a reminder of the work that remains to keep our nation’s miners safe,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller… Continue Reading
Chairs Miller and Woolsey Call on Mine Operators to Take Immediate Steps to Make Safety a Top Priority
04.29.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In light of a fourth fatal mine tragedy this month, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today called on the nation’s coal mine operators to redouble efforts to ensure that miner safety is a top priority. In a letter to the nation’s two leading coal mine operator associations, Miller and Woolsey asked mine owners to partner with their workers in indentify… Continue Reading
Protecting America’s Workers Act Will Protect Whistleblowers, Ensure Victims Rights, Witnesses Tell House Panel
04.28.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Legislation is needed to modernize federal laws that protect workers who blow the whistle on unsafe working conditions and ensure victims of workplace accidents have a voice an investigation, witnesses told the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee today. The hearing took place on the 21st anniversary of Workers Memorial Day, which honors workers who lose their lives, become injured or develop an illness on the job each year.“A safe wo… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on Mine Death at International Coal Group’s Pocahontas Mine in West Virginia
04.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued a statement today after a miner died at a coal mine listed by federal mine safety officials as facing potential higher sanctions if not for a backlog of thousands of owner appeals. A 28-year old miner at the Pocahontas Mine in Raleigh County, West Virginia was crushed between a continuous miner and the mine wall last night. The miner died this morning. “I am deeply saddened by yet anot… Continue Reading
Incentives to Improve Work-Life Balance Are Needed, Witnesses Tell Subcommittee
04.22.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Employers should be incentivized to help employees achieve a healthy work-life balance amid Americans’ changing responsibilities at home and in the work place, witnesses told the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee today. In March, U.S. Reps. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and George Miller (D-CA), introduced The Work-Life Balance Award Act of 2010 (H.R. 4855), legislation to recognize workplaces that provide employees the ability to achieve work-life balance.Balancing work and fam… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Statement on President Obama’s Comments on Mine Safety
04.15.10 U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s comments after meeting with U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis, the head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration, Joe Main, and Administrator for Coal Mine Safety and Health, Kevin Stricklin, on the Upper Big Branch Mine tragedy.“President Obama is correct that we need to reform a mine safety system that has for far too long been tipped in favor of mi… Continue Reading
Chair Miller Releases List of Dangerous Mines Escaping Tighter Scrutiny
04.14.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, released a list of 48 mines identified by federal mine safety officials in August 2009 for increased scrutiny, but were not targeted due to unresolved appeals filed by mine operators. The list includes the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia where 29 miners lost their lives in an explosion on April 5.“In the name of deep public interest, today I am releasing information important to the immedi… Continue Reading
Chairs Miller, Rahall, Woolsey Call for IG Investigation of MSHA Penalty Enforcement System
04.13.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, Nick Rahall (D-WV), chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the House Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today called on the U.S. Department of Labor Inspector General to investigate the disclosure that a computer error prevented the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration from issuing a letter to the Upper Big Branch mine in Montcoal, West Virgin… Continue Reading
Chairs Miller and Woolsey Statement on the West Virginia Mine Tragedy
04.06.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, and U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, issued the following statement on yesterday’s tragic Upper Big Branch Mine Explosion in West Virginia. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and community who lost loved ones in yesterday’s mine tragedy and with those who still have loved ones trapped in the mine. We grieve the loss of the 25 bra… Continue Reading
Chair Miller Statement on NLRB Recess Appointments
03.29.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement on President Barack Obama’s recess appointments of Craig Becker and Mark Pearce to the National Labor Relations Board. The five-member board currently has only two members, with one member’s term set to expire in August. “President Obama was right to put aside partisanship and delay to ensure the proper operations of important government functions. The National Lab… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Obama Nominations to Chemical Safety Board
03.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chair of the House Education and Labor Committee, issued the following statement today after President Obama nominated Dr. Rafael Moure-Eraso and Mark Griffon the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Moure-Eraso was nominated to be chair of the board. “President Obama has nominated two exceptionally qualified individuals who will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Chemical Safety Board,” said Miller. “Since th… Continue Reading
Tougher Safety Penalties Will Improve Workplace Health and Safety, Witnesses tell House Subcommittee
03.16.10 Witnesses told the Workforce Protections Subcommittee that legislation to strengthen and modernize workplace health and safety laws will save lives and hold employers accountable if they knowingly put their workers in danger. “There is no question that [current health and safety law] has saved hundreds of thousands of lives and countless others have avoided preventable illnesses and injuries,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D- CA), chair of the subcommittee. “But we cannot claim victory because mo… Continue Reading
Backlog of Mine Operator Appeals of Safety Violations Undermines Worker Safety, Witnesses Tell House Committee
02.23.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A flood of mine owner appeals of health and safety violations are delaying tougher penalties for the country’s most dangerous mines and undermining efforts to protect miners, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. “MSHA’s stronger emphasis on safety is saving lives and reducing injuries,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of committee. “Some of the largest mining operations have responded by challenging tougher sanctions at a staggering rat… Continue Reading
Dept. of Labor Promoting Economic Recovery, Stronger Worker Protections, Sec. Solis tells Congress
02.03.10 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis told the House Education and Labor Committee today that the U.S. Department of Labor is both helping the economy recover and improving American workers’ lives by strengthening basic workplace protections, and training workers for new and better jobs.“In an especially difficult economy, a responsive Department of Labor is essential to assisting and standing up for workers,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and L… Continue Reading