Senate proposes budget increases for OSHA and other safety agencies

Washington — The Senate is calling for an 11.1% funding increase for OSHA in fiscal year 2023, under a recently released series of 12 appropriations bills that includes other federal safety agencies.

The Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2023 (S. 4659) proposes $679.8 million for OSHA in FY 2023 – a $68 million increase from FY 2022. The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The House’s funding bill, approved by its Appropriations Committee on June 30, proposes $712 million for OSHA. The finalized budget, if passed, will likely fall somewhere between the two proposed amounts.

The Senate is proposing nearly $409.6 million for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, a 6.8% increase from FY 2022. The House is proposing $403.8 million for the agency.

NIOSH would get a 4.4% funding bump, to $367.3 million, if the Senate bill passes as is. The House bill allocates $363.3 million to the agency.

Under the Senate’s Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill (S. 4686), the Chemical Safety Board would see a 7.5% increase to its FY 2022 budget, to $14.4 million from $13.4 million. The House is proposing the same amount.

The Senate Appropriations Committee is expected to consider the bills after the fall recess, which ends Sept. 6.