1. United States
2. Calif.
3. Letter

Oppose OSHA's proposed rollback of respirator regulations and co-sign the letter circulating in Congress demanding the agency abandon these changes. More than 5,000 Americans die every year from occupation-related respiratory illnesses. Stripping employer requirements to provide respirators when workers handle lead, asbestos, and formaldehyde will make that number worse. The process alone should disqualify these rules. OSHA issued them in July 2025 without required evidence and held its procedural hearing in August while Congress was in recess. Even the Associated General Contractors of America warned that deregulatory benefits "will be outweighed by potential liability down the line." When industry and safety advocates agree, that is a signal worth heeding. In next year's budget, vote to fully fund and staff OSHA. Inspections dropped 20% in 2025, the agency lost 223 employees, and a proposed 8% cut for fiscal year 2027 would gut enforcement further. Workplace safety saves companies money by keeping insurance costs lower and employees on the job. Underfunding OSHA does not save money. It shifts the cost onto workers and their families.