Protecting America’s Workers Act

Hozzl · 2023-12-06T08:15:40Z

Explore the details of House Bill 2998 Protecting America’s Workers Act currently in Congress. Get insights into its purpose, current status, sponsors, and potential impact on Labor and Employment. Stay informed on legislative developments.

12/6/2023, 8:15 AM

Summary of Bill HR 2998

Bill 118 hr 2998, also known as the Protecting America's Workers Act, is a piece of legislation introduced in the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to strengthen and improve workplace safety standards in order to protect American workers from harm and ensure their well-being.

The bill includes several key provisions aimed at achieving this goal. One of the main provisions is to increase the penalties for employers who violate workplace safety regulations. This is intended to serve as a deterrent and encourage employers to prioritize the safety of their workers.

Additionally, the bill seeks to enhance the rights of workers to report safety violations without fear of retaliation. It includes provisions to protect whistleblowers who speak out about unsafe working conditions and ensure that they are not punished for doing so. Furthermore, the Protecting America's Workers Act aims to improve the enforcement of workplace safety regulations by providing additional resources to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). This includes increasing the number of inspectors and improving training programs to ensure that OSHA is able to effectively monitor and enforce safety standards. Overall, the bill is designed to promote a safer and healthier work environment for American workers by strengthening workplace safety regulations, increasing penalties for violations, protecting whistleblowers, and enhancing the enforcement of safety standards. It is an important piece of legislation that aims to prioritize the well-being of workers across the country.

Congressional Summary of HR 2998

Protecting America's Workers Act

This bill expands the coverage of requirements governing workplace safety and health to include protection for federal, state, and local government employees. However, the bill does not cover working conditions otherwise covered by federal requirements for mine safety and health.

The bill revises requirements governing worker protection, including by

expanding protections for whistle-blowers, such as protections for employees who refuse to perform work because they reasonably believe the work would result in serious injury or illness and for employees who aid inspections;
directing employers to furnish a hazard-free place of employment to all individuals performing work, not just employees;
directing employers to report work-related deaths or certain injuries, illnesses, or hospitalizations;
requiring the Department of Labor to investigate fatalities or significant incidents in the workplace;
establishing rights for victims, or representatives of victims, with respect to inspections or investigations of work-related bodily injuries or deaths;
setting the permitted period for employers to correct serious, willful, or repeated violations while citations for the violations are being contested;
increasing civil and criminal penalties for certain violations;
expanding enforcement requirements relating to state occupational safety and health plans;
expanding requirements for workplace health hazard evaluations by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; and
requiring Labor to provide training programs concerning employee rights and employer responsibilities.

Read the Full Bill

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Current Status of Bill HR 2998

Bill HR 2998 is currently in the status of Bill Introduced since April 28, 2023. Bill HR 2998 was introduced during Congress 118 and was introduced to the House on April 28, 2023. Bill HR 2998's most recent activity was Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce. as of April 28, 2023

Bipartisan Support of Bill HR 2998

Total Number of Sponsors

Democrat Sponsors

Republican Sponsors

Unaffiliated Sponsors

Total Number of Cosponsors

Democrat Cosponsors

Republican Cosponsors

Unaffiliated Cosponsors

Policy Area and Potential Impact of Bill HR 2998

Primary Policy Focus

Labor and Employment

Alternate Title(s) of Bill HR 2998

Protecting America’s Workers Act

To amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to expand coverage under the Act, to increase protections for whistleblowers, to increase penalties for high gravity violations, to adjust penalties for inflation, to provide rights for victims or their family members, and for other purposes.