Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Worker Safety and Health
Chairs Miller & Woolsey Applaud Senate Confirmation of David Michaels as New OSHA Chief
12.04.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today applauded last evening’s U.S. Senate confirmation of Dr. David Michaels as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health. “The Senate’s confirmation of David Michaels should be a signal to our nation’s workers that they will have a strong ally to ensure their workplace health and safety,”… Continue Reading
Paid Sick Leave Helps Slow Spread of H1N1 Flu Virus, Witnesses tell House Panel
11.17.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ensuring workers have access to paid sick leave can help slow the spread of highly contagious illnesses like the H1N1 flu virus, witnesses told the House Education and Labor Committee today. By giving workers access to paid sick leave, employees will not be forced to choose between losing pay and infecting co-workers and the public. “When you’re struggling to make ends meet you’re going to do everything possible to not miss a day’s pay,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), c… Continue Reading
GAO Finds Incentives to Underreport Workplace Injuries and Illnesses Pervasive
11.16.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report today that found that incentives for employers and workers to underreport illness not only adversely impacts the accuracy of data that the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) uses to target unsafe workplaces, but also has put pressure on health professionals to change diagnoses or provide insufficient treatments. The report was requested by U.S. Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Patty Murray (D-WA),… Continue Reading
House Democrats Introduce H1N1 Flu Emergency Sick-Leave Bill
11.03.09 WASHNGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, announced emergency temporary legislation today that will guarantee five paid sick days for a worker sent home or directed to stay home by their employer for a contagious illness, such as the H1N1 flu virus. The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing on the legislation the week of November 16.“Sick w… Continue Reading
Record Fine against BP for On-Going Negligence Raises Serious Concerns, Chairs Miller and Woolsey Say
10.30.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today released a statement on the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s announcement of a record $87 million proposed fine against BP Products North America for its failure to correct serious health and safety standards at the company’s Texas City, Texas refinery - the location of a 2005 explosion … Continue Reading
Greater Oversight of State Worker Health and Safety Programs Needed, Witnesses tell House Labor Panel
10.29.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Stronger federal oversight of state-run health and safety programs is needed to ensure that states provide workers with basic on-the-job protections, witnesses told the U.S. House Education and Labor Committee. Serious questions were raised after a federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration review of Nevada OSHA found significant gaps in the agency’s protections. “Basic oversight of state plans is not only important in Nevada, but it is vital to the 57 million Ameri… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Unanimous Senate Approval of Joe Main as Federal Mine Safety Chief
10.22.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, applauded yesterday’s unanimous U.S. Senate confirmation of Joe Main as the next Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. “I congratulate Joe Main’s unanimous Senate confirmation as the next head of the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Main will be a tireless advocate for the health and safety of America’s miners and bring a needed jumpstart to an agency that suffer… Continue Reading
House Committee Announces Hearing on Federal Review of Nevada Health and Safety Program
10.20.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - In light of a new government report released today highlighting dangerous gaps in health and safety protections for workers in Nevada, U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today announced that the committee will hold a hearing on Thursday, October 29 to examine the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s critical review of Nevada’s workplace health and safety program. “This report confirms that there are serious … Continue Reading
Miller and Woolsey Applaud OSHA Action to Protect Workers from Dust Explosions at Industrial Work Sites
10.20.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today applauded the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s issuance of an advance notice of rulemaking to prevent combustible dust explosions like the one that occurred at the Imperial Sugar refinery in February 2008 that killed 14 workers and injured dozens.“OSHA’s announcement is a giant step forward … Continue Reading
Chairs Miller and Woolsey Praise Expected Nomination of Dr. David Michaels as OSHA Head
07.28.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), the chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today praised President Barack Obama’s announcement of his intention to nominate Dr. David Michaels as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health.“President Obama is to be commended for his intent to nominate Dr. David Michaels to lead the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administ… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Applauds Obama Nomination of Joe Main as Mine Safety Head
07.06.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, today praised President Barack Obama’s announcement that he intends to nominate Joe Main as Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health. “I applaud President Obama’s intent to nominate Joe Main to lead the Mine Safety and Health Administration. Throughout his career, Joe has been a tireless advocate for the health and safety of our nation’s miners. His experience and enthusias… Continue Reading
Worker Safety Program Expanded by Bush Administration Not Effective, GAO Reports
06.18.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - An Occupational Safety and Health Administration program expanded by the Bush administration lacked proper oversight, did not improve worker safety, and diverted scarce resources from other enforcement duties, the Government Accountability Office concluded in a report released today by two Congressional committees.Businesses that participate in OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program are able to avoid routine inspections, as long as they demonstrate that they have exemplary safety… Continue Reading
House Dems Applaud Expected Withdrawal of Last-Minute Secret Bush Regulation
05.15.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the House Committee on Education and Labor today applauded the Department of Labor’s announcement that they intend to withdraw a Bush era proposal that would have dramatically weakened future workplace health and safety regulations and slow their enactment."The Bush administration’s proposal would have dramatically slowed important initiatives to ensure the health and safety of American workers,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education a… Continue Reading
Troubled Worker Safety Program Needs Revamping, Witnesses tell House Labor Subcommittee
04.30.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - A special worker health and safety program that targets employers that repeatedly put their workers in harms way is not working and needs to be refocused, witnesses told the Workforce Protections Subcommittee of the House Education and Labor Committee today.“After six years of operation, it’s clear that the Enhanced Enforcement Program original design is flawed, and that OSHA under the Bush administration did not implement the program as intended,” said U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey … Continue Reading
Low Health and Safety Penalties Endanger Workers’ Lives, Witnesses tell House Labor Committee
04.28.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Current penalties against employers that endanger workers’ health and safety are too low to deter future violations, witnesses to the House Education and Labor Committee today.“Penalties are the key enforcement mechanism under the law. They must be real. They must be meaningful,” said U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the committee. “And, these penalties must not be just the cost of doing business.” Created with flickrSLiDR. Today is also Workers Memorial Day, whi… Continue Reading
House Democrats Introduce Bill to Reform Nation’s Worker Health and Safety Law
04.23.09 WASHINGTON, D.C. - Democrats on the House Education and Labor Committee, led by U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, introduced legislation today that would help the nation’s health and safety agencies to hold unscrupulous employers accountable for exposing their workers to preventable hazards. “It has been more than 30 years since the passage of the OSH Act, and it is badly in need of reform. While thousands of workers have been saved as a result of OS… Continue Reading
Chairman Miller Congratulates Jordan Barab Being Named as Acting Head of OSHA
04.08.09 WASHINGTON - U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis today named House Education and Labor Committee senior policy advisor Jordan Barab as deputy assistant secretary for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Barab will also serve as acting assistant secretary for OSHA beginning Monday. Barab has worked for the committee for more than two years specializing in worker health and safety issues. “I congratulate Jordan for being named as the acting head of OSHA. Jordan will bring a tremendous a… Continue Reading
Reps. Miller and Barrow Reintroduce Bill to Protect Workers from Dust Explosions at Industrial Work Sites
02.04.09 WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. John Barrow (D-GA), and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA), chair of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, today reintroduced legislation to prevent workplace explosions. This weekend is the anniversary of the Imperial Sugar refinery disaster in Port Wentworth, Ga., which killed 14 workers and injured dozens. And yesterday, six workers were injured when a coal dust collector at a power plant in suburba… Continue Reading