- An appropriations bill that would provide $560 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) — a 0.8 percent decline from the agency's current funding level — was approved by a House appropriations subcommittee.
An appropriations bill that would provide $560 million for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA) — a 0.8 percent decline from the agency's current funding level — was approved by a House appropriations subcommittee.
The bill also contains a number of riders blocking OSHA regulatory initiatives. One rider would bar OSHA from developing its injury and illness prevention program (I2P2) rule, which OSHA long has touted as its top rulemaking priority. Under the rule, employers would be required to find and fix safety and health hazards in their own workplaces, potentially including those not covered by any existing standard.
The bill now moves to the full appropriations committee, where it may be voted on as early as the week of July 23.
On June 14, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved $565.4 million in OSHA funding for FY13, the same amount assigned in President Obama’s budget request. Senate Majority Leader Reid (D-Nev.), however, has said the Senate will not attempt to pass any regular appropriations bills this year.
