Bipartisan Effort to Codify VPP Backed by ASSE
Bipartisan legislation introduced in the U.S. Senate and House to place OSHA’s Voluntary Protectiion Program (VPP) into law and ensure the program’s future has received ASSE’s support. In letters to Senators Enzi and Landrieu for S 807 and Representatives Petri and Green for HR 1511, ASSE expressed its strong support for VPP. Senator Enzi and Rep. Petri are Republicans. Senator Landrieu and Rep. Green are Democrats. “VPP is unique in encouraging employers not simply to meet regulatory standards but to take active responsibility for safety and to seek results beyond the minimum,” the letters said. ASSE also supports provisions requiring a monitoring system with specific performance goals for VPP and prohibiting payment from an employer to participate. The current Administration cut funding for VPP in its FY ’11 budget proposal for OSHA but has fully fundeded the program in its FY ’12 budget.