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WORKSAFE! is tracking the following federal legislation:
Note: We linked below pdf versions of bills as first introduced which won't include subsequent amendments. For the most up-to-date version of a federal bill in which you are interested, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/home/c110query.html, where you can search by bill number or keyword.
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S 1244/HR 2049 Protecting America's Workers Act (PAWA) by Senator Edward Kennedy (D - Mass.) and two representatives. |
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SUPPORT |
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Click here for the Senate bill. Click here for the House bill. This bill will increase fines for companies that violate occupational safety and health rules and will extend the Occupational Safety and Health Act to at least 8.6 million more state and local public employees. The bill will also make felony charges available for an employer's repeated and willful violation of OSHA citations that result in a worker?s death or serious injury. In addition, the bill will offer more protection to whistleblowers and provide more accountability and transparency in OSHA's death and serious incident investigations.
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| Action: |
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Contact WORKSAFE! at fcs@worksafe.org or (510) 302-1071 for more information about how you can help. |
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE HERE:
Media reports on the proposed federal Protecting America's Workers Act:
Summer 2007
Protecting America's Workers Act: Congress Initiates Action to Spur OSHA
LHSFNA
"This bill attacks a number of long-standing problems and is an important step in the right direction," says LIUNA General President Terence M. O'Sullivan, noting the introduction in April of the Protecting America's Workers Act. "Similar legislation had no chance in the last Congress, but we hope to achieve significant bipartisan support this time around."
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S 742 BAN ASBESTOS by Senator Patty Murray (D - WA) and others |
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SUPPORT |
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Description: |
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Click here for the bill. This bill will amend the Toxic Substances Control Act to reduce the health risks posed by asbestos-containing products.
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| Action: |
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Contact WORKSAFE! at fcs@worksafe.org or (510) 302-1071 for more information about how you can help. |
YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE HERE:
Media reports on the proposed federal asbestos legislation.
October 5, 2007
Senate Backs Banning Asbestos
Reuters
Legislation passed the Senate that would ban the import and use of asbestos in the United States. The Environmental Protection Agency unsuccessfully attempted to ban the cancer-causing material from 1989 to 1991. The unanimously approved measure will now be heard in the House of Representatives.
June 13, 2007
Senators Close to Asbestos Deal
DC Bureau
Sacramento Bee
A deal is near on legislation that would ban the use of asbestos, a fibrous mineral often used in brake linings, gaskets and cement products despite its deadly health risks.
June 13, 2007
Glimmer of hope in banning asbestos
David Whitney
McClatchy Newspapers
A deal is near on legislation banning the use of asbestos, a fibrous mineral often used in brake linings, gaskets, cement products and even yarns and threads imported into the country despite its deadly health risks.
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HR 2693 REGULATE DIACETYL by Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D - CA) and others |
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SUPPORT |
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Description: |
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Click here for the bill.
To get OSHA to do the job that Congress gave it more than thirty-five years ago, Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey and more than a dozen Democratic co-sponsors introduced this bill to force OSHA to issue a standard to protect workers against diacetyl, the artificial butter flavoring that causes "popcorn lung" or broncheolitis obliterans.
This bill was introduced following an April 24 hearing focusing on the Bush administration's failure to issue standards.
This bill will require Federal OSHA to issue an "Interim Temporary Standard" regulating worker exposure to diacetyl in flavoring manufacturing and in microwave popcorn establishments within 90 days of enactment of the Act. Within two years, OSHA would be required to issue for all facilities where diacetyl is processed a final standard that includes a short term exposure limit and a permissible exposure limit that does not exceed the lowest feasible level.
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| Action: |
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Contact WORKSAFE! at fcs@worksafe.org or (510) 302-1071 for more information about how you can help. |
Docket Items on the proposed federal diacetyl legislation:
- Click here for the Cost Estimate Report by the Congressional Budget Office (last revised July 18, 2007).
- Click here for the amendment by Rep. Wilson (R-SC) to HR 2693 that asks that language be included to have NIOSH evaluate other chemicals that are similar to diacetyl and also used in flavorings.
- Click here for Rep. McKeon (R-CA)'s opening statement.
- Click here for Rep. Wilson's opening statement.
- Click here for Rep. Wilson's justification for this amendment.
- Click here for a letter supporting HR 2693 from the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA) dated July 13, 2007.
- Click here for a letter by Edwin Foulke of the US Department of Labor dated June 19, 2007.
- Click here for the statement to introduce the bill by Lynn Woolsey dated June 13, 2007.
Media reports on the proposed federal diacetyl legislation:
- June 20, 2007
House Labor Committee Passes Legislation to Protect Food Flavoring Workers from Severe Lung Disease
Press Release
The House Education and Labor Committee approved legislation today in a bipartisan voice vote to force the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to act to protect workers at food processing plants from exposure to diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial food flavoring linked to a severe, irreversible lung disease that has sickened and killed a number of workers nationwide.
- June 16, 2007
Butter-chemical Bill Unveiled
James McNair
The Enquirer
Frustrated with what they say is foot-dragging by the Bush administration, 14 Democratic members of Congress have introduced a bill aimed at lessening worker exposure to a potentially deadly chemical used to make butter flavorings.
- June 15, 2007
Another Federal Case of Agency Indifference
Editorial
Nashua Telegraph
Who would have thought working with artificial butter flavoring for microwave popcorn could be hazardous? Well, apparently it is and Congress is being asked to approve newly introduced legislation to make OSHA take notice and do something about it.
- June 13, 2007
Woolsey Introduces Legislation to Protect Food Flavoring Workers from Severe Lung Disease
U.S. Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) and other Democratic members today introduced legislation to protect workers at food processing plants from exposure to diacetyl, a chemical used in artificial food flavoring linked to a severe, irreversible lung disease that has sickened and killed a number of workers nationwide.
Related California legislation and regulations YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ISSUE HERE:
- Click here to jump to the Worksafe legislation banning diacetyl in California, and click here to jump to information on how you can TAKE ACTION on AB 514.
- Click here to jump to SB 456, additional California legislation regarding diacetyl in California, and click here to jump to information on how you can TAKE ACTION on SB 456.
- Click here to jump to the Worksafe webpage on diacetyl.
- Click here to jump to more information about this issue on the Worksafe regulations webpage.
- Click here to jump to the Cal/OSHA webpage with details about this regulatory advisory committee.
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