A number of individuals and organization have requested the Office of Worker's Compensation Programs (OWCP) to extend the public comment on the proposed rule changes to the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program until the Advisory Board on Toxic Substances and Worker Health (ABTSWH) has been seated and has the opportunity to advise you of the proposed changes. With little more than a week left for the public to provide comments, it does not appear that OWCP will grant the extension.
I feel that if ABTSWH is not permitted to weigh in on these proposed changes, they will be little more than a ceremonial board, no matter how highly qualified the members are. It is vital that this ABTSWH be seated immediately and that DOL withdraws the proposed changes and work with ABTSWH before any program changes are implemented.
Thank you for your consideration.
Contact your legislators! Have them ask for hearings into the program. The proposed changes remind me and other advocates of the OMB passback memo - you remember the one with the ideas on how to control the cost in growth of benefits.
Senator Alexander is the Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions committee. Please contact his office and ask him to hold hearings. You can find other members of the committee herehttp://www.help.senate.gov/
Thanks! We have to stop this.