House Republicans Challenge Biden’s Heat-Safety Initiative
Bank of America business banking President and Co-head Sharon Miller discusses small and mid-sized business costs and the optimism these companies have going into 2026 on ‘The Claman Countdown’.
House Republicans and small business advocates are voicing strong opposition to a heat-safety rule proposed during the Biden administration. They argue that this regulation would impose unnecessary requirements on employers across the nation.
Recently, Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., introduced the “Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025.” This legislation aims to repeal a federal heat-safety rule that mandates specific actions from employers when their workers are exposed to certain temperatures.
According to a Nov. 20 announcement from Messmer’s office, over 20 Republican lawmakers and various business advocacy groups are supporting the bill. “As a small business owner myself, I’ve seen how unwarranted, heavy-handed regulations can crush innovation, increase costs, and undermine the productivity of American institutions,” Messmer stated. “The Biden Heat Rule was never about safety; it was, unsurprisingly, focused on expanding federal bureaucratic control over hard-working Americans.”
THIS FAST-GROWING CHAIN SAYS ‘NO DISCOUNTS’ – AND IT’S PAYING OFF
FILE PHOTO: Employees talk amongst themselves at a small business. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
In July 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” rule. This regulation would require employers to take specific actions when workers are exposed to temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 15 minutes within a 60-minute period.
Julie Su, former Acting Secretary of Labor, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Every worker should come home safe and healthy at the end of the day, which is why the Biden-Harris administration is taking this significant step to protect workers from the dangers posed by extreme heat.”
However, critics argue that the proposed rule would impose one-size-fits-all standards that overlook the efforts of companies already implementing heat injury prevention measures. They contend that it would burden small businesses with fines for non-compliance and restrict states from establishing their own heat-safety regulations, as noted by Messmer’s office.
SMALL BUSINESSES REPORT RECORD MONTHLY SURGE IN PRICE INCREASES AS INFLATION PRESSURE MOUNTS
U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) speaks at a press conference on June 4, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Dylan Rosnick, principal of federal government relations at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), stated, “Small businesses overwhelmingly oppose the Biden Administration’s proposed OSHA Heat Standard as it would add unworkable, new, one-size-fits-all mandates and dramatically increase the federal government’s regulatory control over their business.” He emphasized that small businesses are already taking proactive measures to protect their workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries.
MOM SAYS VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS HER BEING BOOTED FROM GEORGIA RESTAURANT FOR BREASTFEEDING HER BABY
President Joe Biden speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2024. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Rosnick further added, “Yet, the Biden Administration’s proposed OSHA Heat Standard fails to recognize this fact and instead would cripple small businesses, who work without government intervention to protect their employees’ health and safety, with more mandates and regulatory burdens.”
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OSHA has recently extended the public comment period for the proposed heat rule, which will remain open until January 14, 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The department has not yet responded to FOX Business’ request for comment.
Bank of America business banking President and Co-head Sharon Miller discusses small and mid-sized business costs and the optimism these companies have going into 2026 on ‘The Claman Countdown’.
House Republicans and small business advocates are voicing strong opposition to a heat-safety rule proposed during the Biden administration. They argue that this regulation would impose unnecessary requirements on employers across the nation.
Recently, Rep. Mark Messmer, R-Ind., introduced the “Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025.” This legislation aims to repeal a federal heat-safety rule that mandates specific actions from employers when their workers are exposed to certain temperatures.
According to a Nov. 20 announcement from Messmer’s office, over 20 Republican lawmakers and various business advocacy groups are supporting the bill. “As a small business owner myself, I’ve seen how unwarranted, heavy-handed regulations can crush innovation, increase costs, and undermine the productivity of American institutions,” Messmer stated. “The Biden Heat Rule was never about safety; it was, unsurprisingly, focused on expanding federal bureaucratic control over hard-working Americans.”
THIS FAST-GROWING CHAIN SAYS ‘NO DISCOUNTS’ – AND IT’S PAYING OFF
FILE PHOTO: Employees talk amongst themselves at a small business. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
In July 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced the “Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings” rule. This regulation would require employers to take specific actions when workers are exposed to temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 15 minutes within a 60-minute period.
Julie Su, former Acting Secretary of Labor, emphasized the importance of this initiative: “Every worker should come home safe and healthy at the end of the day, which is why the Biden-Harris administration is taking this significant step to protect workers from the dangers posed by extreme heat.”
However, critics argue that the proposed rule would impose one-size-fits-all standards that overlook the efforts of companies already implementing heat injury prevention measures. They contend that it would burden small businesses with fines for non-compliance and restrict states from establishing their own heat-safety regulations, as noted by Messmer’s office.
SMALL BUSINESSES REPORT RECORD MONTHLY SURGE IN PRICE INCREASES AS INFLATION PRESSURE MOUNTS
U.S. Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) speaks at a press conference on June 4, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images / Getty Images)
Dylan Rosnick, principal of federal government relations at the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), stated, “Small businesses overwhelmingly oppose the Biden Administration’s proposed OSHA Heat Standard as it would add unworkable, new, one-size-fits-all mandates and dramatically increase the federal government’s regulatory control over their business.” He emphasized that small businesses are already taking proactive measures to protect their workers from heat-related illnesses and injuries.
MOM SAYS VIRAL VIDEO SHOWS HER BEING BOOTED FROM GEORGIA RESTAURANT FOR BREASTFEEDING HER BABY
President Joe Biden speaks in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC, on May 14, 2024. (Tierney L. Cross/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Rosnick further added, “Yet, the Biden Administration’s proposed OSHA Heat Standard fails to recognize this fact and instead would cripple small businesses, who work without government intervention to protect their employees’ health and safety, with more mandates and regulatory burdens.”
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
OSHA has recently extended the public comment period for the proposed heat rule, which will remain open until January 14, 2025, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The department has not yet responded to FOX Business’ request for comment.
