Tell Congress About Your Concerns Regarding OSHA’s Proposed Emergency Response Standard

August 27, 2024

The effort to spread awareness about how the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed Emergency Response Standard could harm volunteer fire departments continues. In addition to encouraging volunteer responders to submit public comments and testimony to OSHA regarding this standard, the National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has been active in alerting Congress to the issues.

With the NVFC’s support, Congress has taken a number of actions to weigh-in on the proposed standard, including the following:

  • The House Homeland Security Committee’s Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology held a hearing on OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard on June 4. The NVFC had a witness testify at this hearing.
  • The House Education and Workforce Committee’s Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard July 24. The NVFC had a witness testify at this hearing.
  • In May, Rep. Golden and Rep. Desposito co-led a letter with 40 other members of Congress (29 Republicans, 13 Democrats total) asking OSHA to make the proposed standard more scalable for volunteer firefighters.
  • In June, Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Foxx led a letter with 23 other Republican Members of Congress asking Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su to exempt volunteers from the emergency response standard.
  • In July, the Senate and House Members from the Arkansas Congressional delegation sent a letter to Acting Secretary Su requesting that OSHA rescind the proposed rule.
  • In August, Sen. Moran and Sen. Coons led a letter with 7 other Senators (7 Republicans, 1 Democrat, 1 Independent total) asking Acting Secretary Su to exempt volunteers from the Emergency Response Standard.
  • Senator Boozman sponsored an amendment that was included in the mark-up of the Senate’s FY 25 Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Bill that encourages OSHA to conduct listening sessions and outreach with stakeholders to fully understand the impact of new requirements on volunteer fire departments.

Though OSHA’s proposed Emergency Response Standard is an Executive Branch action and Congress does not vote on the adoption of the final standard, it is important to continue to make Congress aware of the potential negative impacts of this standard due to their function of overseeing and funding OSHA. Share the NVFC’s advocacy one-pager with your Senators, Representative, or their staff so that they understand the issues and impact.

Visit the NVFC’s OSHA Standard landing page for additional resources to assist you with understanding the proposed Emergency Response Standard and information about testifying during OSHA’s November public hearing.