E&W Blog

Yesterday, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections convened a hearing to examine the federal government’s actions to protect workers from COVID-19.
 
DEMOCRATS PLAYED PANDEMIC POLITICS
This hearing was originally scheduled to take place last week, however Committee Democrats unilaterally called off the hearing in the eleventh hour for ridiculous reasons.
 
DEMOCRATS WANT STRUGGLING BUSINESSES TO FACE MORE RED TAPE
Instead of supporting detailed government guidelines that allow employers to meet the unique and urgent safety needs of their workers, Democrats want to force a one-size-fits-all mandate on EVERY workplace.
 
In his opening statement, Republican Leader of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee, Rep. Bradley Byrne (R-AL), lays out the flaws of that approach: “A standard at this point would be an unproductive burden for businesses already struggling to reopen, potentially exposing them to unnecessary liability risks during an already challenging time and would do little to advance workplace safety.”
 
DEMOCRATS PUSHED A DOUBLE STANDARD
From SARS in the 2000s during the Bush administration to MERS, H1N1 influenza, and Ebola during the Obama administration, OSHA didn’t issue a new regulation but, instead, enforced existing standards and issued industry guidance. If OSHA’s approach was the best response for SARS, MERS, H1N1, and Ebola, why is it not best for COVID-19? And why are Democrats holding DOL under the Trump administration to a different standard than DOL under the Obama administration?
 
OSHA, NIOSH ARE PROTECTING WORKERS
The actions taken by OSHA and NIOSH to protect workers during this pandemic have been timely, responsive, and effective for ALL workers and employers.
 
OSHA’s Loren Sweatt testified: “Although the pandemic has changed the way OSHA completes its mission, it has never faltered in its commitment to ensure employers provide a workplace free of hazards. OSHA quickly pivoted to focus intensely on giving employers and workers the guidance they need to work safely in this rapidly changing situation; where appropriate, OSHA has also enforced safety and health requirements.”
 
Director of CDC's NIOSH, Dr. John Howard, explained why one-size-fits-all mandates – like an emergency temporary standard being pushed by the Democrats – is not the answer during this rapidly changing health crisis: “Our guidance changes rapidly, and I always tell people don’t print out CDC guidance from your printer because it may be out of date the next time you go to the website.”
 
BOTTOM LINE
OHSA and NIOSH are working around the clock to ensure that workers are protected from the unique dangers of COVID-19. Rather than use the subcommittee hearing to have a productive, bipartisan discussion about workplace safety, Committee Democrats elected to use their time hurling insults at administration officials. This is not the time for partisanship or political theatrics, but a time for Members of Congress to come together and do the work they were elected to do.