On Friday, the House of Representatives responded to the Deepwater Horizon tragedy by approving comprehensive oil spill legislation. As part of the legislative effort, on a strong bipartisan vote of 315-93, the House passed a bill to extend vital whistleblower protections to workers on the Outer Continental Shelf, like the those who worked on the Deepwater Horizon. Today, there is not a single federal law that protects offshore workers from employer retribution after blowing the whistle on safety problems. The Associated Press reported:
The Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on whistleblower protections for offshore workers in June. After hearing testimony from MMS, OSHA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, Chairman Miller stated:
The approval of the Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act on Friday was a victory for offshore workers and showed that Education and Labor Democrats are deeply committed to “doing better” on behalf of oil rig workers. During an emotional speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Chairman Miller defended the importance of whistleblower protections:
“…the House approved a separate bill to extend whistleblower protections to oil and gas workers who report hazardous conditions or other problems. The whistleblower bill will be added to the oil spill legislation when it is sent to the Senate.”
The Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on whistleblower protections for offshore workers in June. After hearing testimony from MMS, OSHA, and the U.S. Coast Guard, Chairman Miller stated:
“In light of the current tragedy in Gulf, I hope we can answer whether there is a better way to oversee and protect the health and safety of oil rig workers… The Deepwater disaster clearly demonstrates that the status quo is not good enough. We must do better.”
The approval of the Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act on Friday was a victory for offshore workers and showed that Education and Labor Democrats are deeply committed to “doing better” on behalf of oil rig workers. During an emotional speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, Chairman Miller defended the importance of whistleblower protections:
“Imagine a worker going to work and saying ‘get my affairs in order and let’s check my will.’ That’s what people do when they go to war and they shouldn’t have to do it when they go to work.”
