The International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA) commends Representatives Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), and Greg Landsman (D-OH) for urging the White House and the Department of Health and Human Services to include no less than $366,800,000 for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the Fiscal Year 2027 federal budget.
Read the joint letter sent to the Office of Management and Budget and Department of Health and Human Services.
NIOSH plays a central role in protecting America’s workers and supporting the families and communities who rely on them. Through research, standards development, and technical expertise, NIOSH helps reduce workplace injuries, illnesses, and fatalities across essential industries including mining, manufacturing, commercial fishing, healthcare, and emergency response.
“Strong funding for NIOSH ensures American workers have the protections they need to return home safely each day,” said ISEA President & CEO Cam Mackey. “Investing in safety strengthens our workforce, drives the American economy, and benefits families across the country.”
Among the vital programs supported through NIOSH funding:
- The Mining Program, which works to reduce black lung disease, traumatic injuries, and mine disasters while improving post-disaster survivability and worker training.
- The National Personal Protective Technology Laboratory (NPPTL) and its Respirator Approval Program, which ensure that respiratory protection used by more than 50 million American workers meets rigorous safety standards and help prevent counterfeit products from entering the market.
- The Commercial Fishing Safety Research and Training Program helps reduce fatalities in this dangerous occupation and supports Executive Order 14276, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.”
- The Health Hazard Evaluation Program, which provides expert, no-cost, business-friendly assistance to identify and mitigate workplace health risks in all 50 states.
- The Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program, which delivers critical recommendations to prevent line-of-duty deaths.
Workplace safety delivers measurable results. Employers that invest in effective safety programs report 57% fewer injuries and often see a 4–6 times return on every dollar invested. Sustained federal support for NIOSH helps advance innovation, strengthen protective equipment standards, and ensure workers and employers have access to trusted safety solutions.
“In a time when workplace injuries cost nearly $170 billion in lost productivity and human suffering, maintaining and strengthening NIOSH funding is a commonsense investment that benefits workers, businesses, and communities,” added Mackey. “We thank Representatives Lee, Baumgartner, and Landsman for their leadership and support for policies that advance worker safety and economic strength.”
Learn more about smart, practical policies and regulations that support the safety of American workers at InvestInSafety.org.
About ISEA
ISEA is the voice of the safety equipment industry, which protects more than 125 million workers in America. For more than 90 years, we have been a recognized leader in the development of ANSI-accredited safety equipment standards. We advocate on behalf of the industry for policies that improve worker safety, deliver actionable insights into the safety equipment market, develop critical skills for safety sales professionals, and provide a unique forum for collaboration, learning and growth. Visit safetyequipment.org to learn more.
