Dear Secretary Solis: On December 7, 2009, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) published its Fall 2009 Semiannual Regulatory Agenda in the Federal Register. This agenda noted DOL's intention to issue a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) in August 2010, entitled Records to Be Kept By Employers Under the Fair Labor Standards Act ("the anticipated rulemaking"). At the time, DOL characterized the pr... Read more »
Dear Secretary Solis: I write in opposition to the Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards' (OLMS) proposed change to the interpretation of the "advice" exception. Fundamentally, this proposed rule is part of the administration's ongoing effort to increase the regulatory burden on employers, while tilting the balance of power toward union interests. It moves our nation's workfo... Read more »
Dear Dr. Michaels: For more than two years the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has worked to finalize a regulatory proposal to alter existing crystalline silica standards. A flawed process has created uncertainty and concerns among the public and industry. To provide employers and the American people the certainty and transparency they deserve, OSHA should immediately make pu... Read more »
The Honorable David Michaels, PhD Assistant Secretary of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration U.S. Department of Labor 200 Constitution Ave, NW Washington, D.C. 20210 Dear Dr. Michaels, We are concerned by discrepancies in existing Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) policies governing safe operation for telecommunications towers. Guidance based on policy directive... Read more »
Dear Secretary Michaels: Recent media reports describe a series of hotel inspections undertaken by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in what appears to be an aggressive corporate campaign by UNITE HERE. These multiple, redundant inspections are exceptionally troubling in light of OSHA's stated policy to not involve the nation's safety agency in ongoing labor disputes... To ... Read more »
Dear Mr. Dodaro, On Thursday, June 16, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections examined the successes and challenges of state workforce safety programs. Members learned during the hearing that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recently increased its scrutiny of state safety efforts; however, OSHA has failed to determine the impact of its own enforcement program. To en... Read more »
Dear Mr. Dodaro: On May 12, 2011, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce held a hearing entitled, "Reviewing Workers' Compensation for Federal Employees." At the hearing, the Acting Director of the Office of Worker's Compensation Programs (OWCP) in the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) outlined the administration's draft reforms (Draft Reforms... Read more »
On Thursday, June 23, 2011, Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Subcommittee on Early Childhood and Secondary Education Chairman Duncan Hunter (R-CA) sent a letter to Secretary Arne Duncan requesting information about his proposed plan to award waivers to schools in exchange for reforms not authorized by Congress. Dear Secretary Duncan: The American people ar well aware of the challenges facing our edu... Read more »
Dear Secretary Solis: The Wage and House Division (WHD) has commenced a new lawyer referral system with the American Bar Association (ABA) (hereafter "the referral system"). On behalf of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, we are requesting information to gain a better understanding of the federal system and its implementation... To read the full letter, click here. Read more »
Dear Assistant Secretary Main: We strongly support and share the Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) commitment to the elimination of black lung disease. In furthering that goal, it is important any proposed regulations issued by MSHA are based on sound science and require the minimal necessary disruption to workers and employers. To that end, we request additional information regardin... Read more »
