Heads up. The economic stimulus bill recently passed by the U.S. House is more than just business and income tax cuts. It contains more money for OSHA.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 contains $80 million for “the enforcement of worker protection laws and regulations, oversight, and coordination activities.”
The Secretary of Labor would be able to divide the funds among OSHA, the Employment and Standards Administration, and the Employment and Training Administration.
President Obama has called for a reinvigorated OSHA that would put more emphasis on enforcement of existing safety regulations.
The Senate has its own version of the bill. The two bills will have to be reconciled, with a final version passed by both houses of Congress.
We’ll keep you posted.
