September '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus Column

Titus Applauds Opening of New OSHA Office in Southern Nevada

September 2, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District applauded the opening of a new Federal OSHA office in Las Vegas this week.

“I welcome the opening of a much-needed Federal OSHA office in Las Vegas,” Congresswoman Titus said. “It is clear from Nevada OSHA’s record that it has let our workers down. A new office in the region will enable a stronger federal-state partnership that will improve training and support for Nevada OSHA without taking away state control.”

Previously there was no regional OSHA office in Nevada. As one of the fastest growing states in the nation, Nevada has seen a tremendous growth in construction and an unacceptable increase in accidents and fatalities. This growth has led to demands on the state’s infrastructure, including Nevada’s safety and health resources, which have struggled to keep up with pressure for services. OSHA’s presence in Southern Nevada will improve services by providing more directed local support for enforcement, technical assistance, and compliance activities to reduce workplace injuries and death.

A number of deaths on the job led to Nevada being the first state in the country to have an in-depth review that highlighted the problems facing Nevada OSHA. This review made it clear to Titus that federal OSHA needs an additional option to work with states that are not meeting federal standards. In response, Titus introduced the Ensuring Worker Safety Act in March. The legislation aims to protect workers by assuring that state OSHA plans are at least as effective as federal standards and enforcement, while protecting states’ rights by giving OSHA options other than withdrawing approval for a state plan when a state plan is found to be underperforming. The Ensuring Worker Safety Act was accepted as part of another piece of worker safety legislation – the Miner Safety and Health Act – when it passed out of the Education and Labor Committee in July.

“The tragic deaths of too many workers in Southern Nevada highlighted the need to ensure that state OSHA plans are doing their job of protecting workers,” Titus added. “Unfortunately under current law, federal OSHA is left with only two options, both at the extreme ends of the spectrum, when it finds state plans that are ineffective. This legislation provides OSHA with an important middle ground so it is not left with the choice of doing nothing or taking the drastic step of terminating a state plan. ”

Titus: More Than One Million Seniors in the Prescription Drug Donut Hole Have Received Assistance Thanks to Health Care Reform

August 30, 2010 – Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement today on the announcement by the Department of Health and Human Services that more than one million Medicare beneficiaries have received a $250 check to help them pay for prescription drugs as part of health care reform that begins closing the prescription drug donut hole.

“As a result of health care reform passed earlier this year, more than one million seniors who have already fallen into the prescription drug donut hole have received $250 to help them pay for the cost of prescription drugs. These checks are helping Nevada’s seniors at a time when every dollar counts and the high cost of prescription drugs is squeezing their budgets.

“The checks are an important first step toward completely closing the donut hole that affected approximately 28,000 Nevadans last year. In total, an estimated 4 million seniors and people with disabilities will receive these checks as their prescription drug costs move them into the donut hole. With too many seniors forced to choose between life-saving drugs and other basic necessities, $250 will make a big impact for those on a fixed income.”

Titus: Republicans Plan to Push Forward on Yucca Mountain

August 27, 2010 – Henderson, NV – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement today on Republican Leader John Boehner’s support for pursuing Yucca Mountain as a nuclear waste depository.

“The Republican Leader has made it clear that a central plank of the Republican agenda is a renewed push to revive Yucca Mountain and turn Nevada into the country’s nuclear waste dumping ground. For too long, Nevadans have had to live with this ever present threat that Yucca Mountain would become a reality.

“The science points to the fact that it is the wrong place to store nuclear waste, and thanks to our relentless efforts, we are closer than ever to finally putting an end to a flawed plan that was misguided from the start. Nevadans cannot afford Republican leadership that would move full steam ahead on Yucca Mountain.”