House subcommittee approves bill that would cut OSHA funding

Washington – OSHA’s budget would decrease by $18.4 million in fiscal 2017 as part of a draft bill released by the House Appropriations Committee.

The House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee met July 7 to mark up the text of the Labor, Health and Human Services funding bill for FY17. At press time, the bill has yet to be scheduled to go before the full House.

The proposed OSHA budget of $534.4 million would represent about a 3.3 percent decrease from fiscal year 2016 and fall far short of President Barack Obama’s requested $595 million.

If approved in a final spending bill, the cuts would create new challenges for OSHA, whose funding has held steady in recent years:

• $552.8 million in 2016
• $552.8 million in 2015
• $552.3 million in 2014

OSHA is not the only agency facing a possible budget crunch. The funding bill allots $350.5 million for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, which is $25.4 million (6.8 percent) below its 2016 level.

“This is the 12th and final Appropriations bill to be considered by the Committee this year. It follows the responsible lead of the legislation before it – investing in proven, effective programs, rolling back over-regulation and overreach by the Administration that kills American jobs, and cutting spending to save hard-earned taxpayer dollars,” House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY) said in a press release.

House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Services Subcommittee ranking member Rose DeLauro (D-CT) criticized the cuts during the markup hearing.

“While there are some increases in the bill, which I strongly support, they come at the expense of many priorities that are already underfunded,” DeLauro said.