A key Senate Democrat on worker safety and health issues says he will direct his staff to look into why Obama administration officials appear to be holding up proposed OSHA rules, such as the agency’s long-delayed plan to tackle workplace silica hazards, through lengthy review processes. Sen. Tom Harkin (IA), who chairs the full Senate labor panel, says he considers protracted reviews by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) the central issue to emerge from a hearing by his committee Thursday (April 19) on how to streamline the agency’s standard-setting process. Harkin, who spoke briefly w
December 29, 2025