OSHA Wins Budget Increase

Dec. 7, 1999
Congress gives OSHA a $27.6 million budget increase for 2000.

Congress finished work on its fiscal year 2000 budget months behind schedule this year, and final details are still not worked out, but at least for OSHA it appears to have been worth the wait. In a year when there were almost no increases in federal discretionary spending, the agency received a $27.6 million increase to bring its 2000 funding up to $382 million, an increase of almost 8 percent.

Despite the rhetoric coming from the Republican controlled Congress, OSHA must have some friends on Capitol Hill, as it fared far better than the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) of which it is a part. The DOL's budget was increased a little more than 2 percent and federal discretionary spending as a whole increased even less, according to the House Appropriations Committee.

Federal enforcement remains the biggest item in OSHA's budget, at $141 million, up five percent from last year. Compliance assistance won the largest dollar increase from 1999 spending levels, rising more than $10 million to $97.3 million.

The largest percentage increase (51 percent) was in safety and health statistics. The money here is intended to speed the transmission of data into and out of OSHA's Washington, D.C. office, according to an agency spokesperson. The spokesperson said the money will be used for Internet support and the upgrading of computers receiving information from area offices and consultation programs.

Attached to Congress's 2000 appropriations bill is a provision requiring a .38 percent cut in every federal department, but it is not yet clear how -- or whether -- this will affect OSHA.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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