Press Releases
Currently showing results related to Worker Safety and Health
Bipartisan Group Reintroduce Bill to Strengthen Protections for Pregnant Workers
02.16.21 WASHINGTON - Today, a bipartisan group of representatives announced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act - which establishes a pregnant worker's clear-cut right to reasonable workplace accommodations, provided they do not impose an undue burden on their employer. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act was reintroduced by Representatives Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), John Katko (R-NY), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Jamie Herrera-Beutler (R-WA), and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA). "I first introduced the Pregnant Wor… Continue Reading
Top Democrats Introduce Bill to Protect Workers’ Right to Organize and Make our Economy Work for Everyone
02.04.21 WASHINGTON - Today, House and Senate Democrats introduced the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, comprehensive labor legislation to protect workers' right to stand together and bargain for fairer wages, better benefits, and safer workplaces. The House bill was introduced by House Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24), Congressman Andy Levin (MI-09), Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), and Congressman Brendan… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on President Biden’s Announcement of National Strategy to Fight the Pandemic, Protect Workers from COVID-19
01.21.21 WASHINGTON - Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after President Biden announced the administration's National Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, which includes guidance directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to determine the necessity of an Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) and, if needed, to issue such a standard by March 15. Over the last year, Chairman Scott and Comm… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott to GSA: Delayed Support for Biden Transition Team Will Have “Devastating Consequences”
11.23.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) sent a letter to the General Services Administration (GSA) Administrator Emily Murphy urging the GSA to grant the Biden-Harris Transition Team access to critical information, services, and resources. "Our country is facing an unprecedented global pandemic that is killing 2,000 Americans per day, and any further delay in an effective government response will have devastating consequences," wrote Chairman … Continue Reading
Labor Leaders to OSHA: Changing Reporting Requirements for COVID-19 Workplace Illness Hurts Workers and Hinders Ability to Control Pandemic
10.14.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Committee on Education and Labor Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chair Alma Adams (NC-12) wrote to the heads of the Department of Labor and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) questioning a recent OSHA policy change that will result in sharply reduced reporting of COVID-related workplace hospitalizations and fatalities and undermine efforts to protect the safety of workers. OSHA requires workplace fatali… Continue Reading
Senate and House Democrats Demand Answers from Secretary Scalia on Labor Department’s Involvement in Weakening COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidance For Nation’s Largest Meatpacking Plant
10.07.20 WASHINGTON -In a letter to U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Eugene Scalia, Senate and House Democrats requested information regarding his Department's involvement in the watering down of Centers for Disease Control recommendations to a South Dakota meatpacking plant that experienced a major COVID-19 outbreak. The letter was sent by House Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chair Alma Adams (NC-12), Senate Employment… Continue Reading
Scott, Pallone to Trump Health Officials: Take Immediate Action to Support a National Testing Strategy to Protect Workers from COVID-19
10.06.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Education and Labor Committee Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) sent a letter to Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Scalia and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Azar demanding increased protections for our nation's frontline workers as the COVID-19 pandemic continues. In the letter, the Chairs express deep concern that low-wage, essential workers lack the health protections n… Continue Reading
Democrats Demand Answers After CDC Weakens COVID-19 Workplace Safety Guidance for Nation’s Largest Meatpacking Plant
09.30.20 WASHINGTON - In a letter to Trump administration health officials, House and Senate Democrats requested information regarding the watering down of Centers for Disease Control recommendations to a South Dakota meatpacking plant that experienced a major COVID-19 outbreak. The letter was sent to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) by Chairman Robert C. "Bobby"… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Urges Yes Vote on Pregnant Workers Fairness Act
09.17.20 "Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2694, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. No one should have to choose between financial security and a healthy pregnancy. Unfortunately, our pregnancy anti-discrimination laws urgently need be updated to provide reasonable accommodations for workers. "Current federal law does not clearly guarantee pregnant workers' right to reasonable accommodations in the workplace - such as water, seating, bathroom breaks, and lifting restrictions. These basic prot… Continue Reading
Pregnant Workers Fairness Act: What People Are Saying
09.17.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the House will vote to secure critical rights for pregnant workers. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (H.R. 2694) would clearly establish a pregnant worker's right to a "reasonable accommodation" so that no worker is forced to choose between financial security and a healthy pregnancy. Here's what some the leading organizations are saying about the bill: A Better Balance: "No one should have to choose between keeping their job and a healthy pregnancy-not during a pandemic, no… Continue Reading
Following Deadly Beirut Explosion, Labor Leaders Call on OSHA to Update Ammonium Nitrate Standard
08.17.20 WASHINGTON – Three members of the House Committee on Education and Labor wrote to Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia today calling on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to update its standards to protect American workers and communities from catastrophic explosions like the recent tragic events in Beirut and in West, Texas in 2013. The Beirut ammonium nitrate explosion has killed over 200 people and the West Fertilizer explosion killed 15, including 12 emergency respond… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Remarks at Joint COVID-19 Oversight Press Conference
08.06.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, delivered the following remarks during a press conference to discuss a joint Committee analysis on the Trump Administration's disastrous response to the coronavirus crisis and the urgent need for a national comprehensive plan. Chairman Scott was joined by Rep. James E. Clyburn, Chairman of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis, Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Comm… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on Virginia OSHA Approving Strong Worker Protections During COVID-19 Pandemic
07.15.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) released the following statement after Virginia became the first state in the country to approve an Emergency Temporary OSHA standard protecting the workers against exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19. "I'm very pleased that the Commonwealth of Virginia has approved an Emergency OSHA standard to protect workers against COVID-19, and I applaud the Governor for his leadership on this issue. In the absence of any serious attempt from t… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott: Court of Appeals Ruling Ignores Evidence that OSHA is Failing to Protect Workers
06.11.20 WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after a federal court ruled that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration had "reasonably determined" that workers do not need an enforceable emergency workplace safety standard, or "Emergency Temporary Standard," to protect them against infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Today's U.S. Court of Appeals ruling ignores the overwhelming evidence that COVID-19 represents a 'grave' danger to workers and tha… Continue Reading
Head of Federal Worker Safety Agency Refuses to Say Whether COVID-19 Is a Grave Danger to American Workers
05.29.20 WASHINGTON - During yesterday's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections hearing, Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12) asked Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt if the COVID-19 pandemic "presents a grave danger to workers." Ms. Sweatt, who leads the federal agency responsible for the safety of U.S. workers, refused to answer. COVID-19 has caused more deaths among workers in a shorter period of time than any other health emergency sin… Continue Reading
Rep. Bonamici Asks OSHA Director Why Agency Has Issued Only One COVID-19 Related Safety Citation
05.28.20 WASHINGTON - During today's Subcommittee on Workforce Protections hearing, Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01) asked Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Loren Sweatt to explain why the agency has issued only one COVID-19 workplace safety citation during the worst worker safety crisis in recent history. The sole citation was for recordkeeping. Though OSHA is not tracking nationwide workplace infections, incomplete data show that tens of thousa… Continue Reading
Chairwoman Adams Opening Statement at Workforce Protections Subcommittee Hearing on Protecting Workers from COVID-19
05.28.20 WASHINGTON - Subcommittee on Workforce Protections Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12) delivered the following opening statement at today's hearing entitled, "Examining the Federal Government's Actions to Protect Workers from COVID-19." "I will now recognize myself for the purposes of an opening statement. "Today's Subcommittee hearing will explore the performance of the federal government in protecting worker safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to thank OSHA Deputy Assistant Secretary Swea… Continue Reading
Committee Holds Virtual Member Briefing on Worker Safety
05.14.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a virtual Member briefing to examine the worker safety crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing, entitled "Protecting Workers from COVID-19," focused on how, despite rising death tolls among workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - the only agency in the federal government with the authority to enforce safe working conditions - has not taken meaningful action to protect workers from COVID-19… Continue Reading
Committee Holds Virtual Member Briefing on Worker Safety
05.14.20 WASHINGTON - Today, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a virtual Member briefing to examine the worker safety crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The briefing, entitled "Protecting Workers from COVID-19," focused on how, despite rising death tolls among workers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - the only agency in the federal government with the authority to enforce safe working conditions - has not taken meaningful action to protect workers from COVID-19… Continue Reading
Chairman Scott Statement on President Trump Ordering Meat Processing Plants to Stay Open Despite Rising Worker Deaths
04.28.20 WASHINGTON - Chairman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement in response to President Trump's plan to order meat processing plants to stay open and shield companies from liability for the health and safety of their workers. "There is clear evidence that without proper protections from COVID-19, workers in meat processing plants and other workplaces will continue to fall ill and die from this disease. It is profoundly disturbing that President Trump is using his authorit… Continue Reading