Tell Congress: Protect worker safety! Reinstate NIOSH immediately.

Call your U.S. representative: 202-519-1331

Call your U.S. senators: 202-509-9128

Over 90 percent of employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) were placed on administrative leave, under the Trump administration's Reduction in Force (RIF) plans earlier this year, and the Republican-led Congress is proposing severe  funding cuts to this  small but critical federal agency that helps protect the lives of millions of workers across the country.

NIOSH has been a lifeline for workers for more than 50 years. Among many other vital services, NIOSH inspects and certifies respirators like N95s and other personal protective equipment that has saved countless lives – especially at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Nurses continue to rely on this expertise to protect us and our patients from infectious diseases every day.

In response to many months of our collective advocacy, the administration brought some NIOSH workers back, but not all, and much of NIOSH’s work remains non-functional. These cuts to staff and funding are extremely dangerous. Without an adequately-funded NIOSH implementing workplace safety protections, the lives of frontline health care workers and workers in many other industries that rely on respiratory protections are at risk.

Call your U.S. representative: 202-519-1331

Call your U.S. senators: 202-509-9128

Here's a short script you can follow: 

Hi, my name is [First Name]. I am your constituent, and I’m a ______ (nurse/other health care worker/patient). I’m calling today to urge you to protect workers’ health and safety by calling for the full reinstatement of NIOSH funding, programs, and workforce. This small but critical agency has been a lifeline for workers for more than 50 years, certifying respirators like N95s and other personal protective equipment that has saved countless lives – especially at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Without NIOSH, frontline health care workers and workers everywhere who rely on respiratory protections are in extreme danger. I urge you to reject the House appropriations package which proposes funding cuts, and instead support the Senate appropriations package which fully funds NIOSH, ensure the appropriated funds are spent on intended programs, and call for all NIOSH staff to be fully reinstated. Thank you.