$12 million OSHA budget increase clears House Appropriations Committee

Washington — The House Appropriations Committee approved two budget bills involving safety agencies in markups July 10 and July 13.

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies funding bill, approved July 13 in a 30-22 vote, allocates nearly $593.8 million to OSHA for fiscal year 2021, which begins Oct. 1. The agency received around $581.8 million in FY 2020.

The bill allocates more than $13.5 million for the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program with at least $4.5 million for Capacity Building Developmental grants. The Voluntary Protection Programs would receive no more than $3.5 million.

The Mine Safety and Health Administration would get more than $379.8 million, the same amount as in FY 2020, and $344.7 million would go to NIOSH – up from $342.8 million. The Trump administration sought $190 million for NIOSH in its budget proposal released Feb. 10.

The administration once again is seeking to eliminate the Harwood grants and the Chemical Safety Board. Congress hasn’t complied with those requests in any previous fiscal years. The Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee bill allocates $12 million to CSB – the same funding the agency received in FY 2020.

Both bills will need approval from the full House. The Senate will likely weigh in with its own budget bills.