ASSE Opposes U.S. House Cuts to OSHA in FY 2011 Budget Battle
In a letter to the leadership of the House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, ASSE stated its opposition to significant cutbacks to OSHA funding proposed in the House of Representatives’ HR 1 as a Continuing Resolution for the remainder of the federal government’s FY 2011 budget. HR 1 passed the House early in the year but the FY 2011 budget is still in negotiations between the House and Senate.
ASSE said a 17.7 percent decrease in OSHA’s funding that would push the agency back to FY 2004 funding levels is far too much, too fast a reduction to allow OSHA to continue the most basic work every Administration and Congress has expected from OSHA. While disagreeing with various current OSHA efforts, ASSE could not agree with rhetoric that a less effective OSHA will promote more jobs.
For example, reducing standard-setting resources will only delay the need to bring this nation’s hazard communications in line with the rest of the world, helping companies be more competitive. Reducing enforcement will help keep OSHA from targeting employers not committed to safety and health who compete unfairly with those that do. Cutting state program funding will drive some state plans out of operation that ASSE members find are more willing to work with employers cooperatively than federal OSHA. In the Senate, OSHA would continue at FY 2010 levels under which the agency is currently working. The FY 2011 budget ends in September. http://www.asse.org/en/index.php/govt_affairs/asse-opposes-u-s-house-cuts-to-osha-in-fy-2011-budget-battle/