Washington — The House Education and Workforce Committee has approved legislation that would allow up to 5% of OSHA’s annual budget to go to the agency’s Voluntary Protection Programs.
The Michael Enzi Voluntary Protection Program Act (H.R. 2844) was sent to the full House after a 19-16 committee vote on Sept. 17. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-TN) and co-sponsored by Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA).
“[OSHA’s] compliance assistance programs, such as the Voluntary Protection Programs, provide incentives to employers to reduce workplace injuries and illnesses without punishing job creators or viewing employers as the enemy,” committee Republicans said in a press release.
“The VPP and other cooperative programs help employers, including small businesses, understand and meet federal safety standards by working with OSHA to learn and implement best practices to reach these goals. This win-win approach improves worker safety by protecting workers before an injury or illness can occur.”
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), the committee’s ranking member, was more cautious. “Voluntary programs can’t replace clear, enforceable standards,” he said in a statement.
