Government affairs

Today, the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act of 2025 was reintroduced in the House and Senate. Rep Judy Chu (D-CA) led the House version with original co-sponsors Reps. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Alma Adams (D-NC). Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) led the Senate bill with original co-sponsors Sens. Ed Markey (D-MA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV).

This bill, which has been introduced in both chambers in previous Congresses, would direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a safety and health standard to protect workers, including postal employees, from heat-related injuries and illnesses. It would also direct employers to provide heat-related training and hazard advisories for employees.

NALC supports this legislation and has worked to ensure that our priorities to protect letter carriers are included in the bill. These provisions include fully paid required rest breaks; compelling OSHA to set up criteria for rest, water, shade and acclimatization; extending the statute of limitations for whistleblowers to report heat-related issues from 30 days to 180 days; and extending the statute of limitations for OSHA to bring heat-related citations against employers from six months to four years.

After years of NALC leading the fight for a national heat safety standard, OSHA finally released a proposed heat safety standard rule last year. Last month, NALC President Brian Renfroe testified at an informal rulemaking hearing in support of the rule.

“Extreme heat poses immense dangers to letter carriers,” President Renfroe said. “Implementing a national heat safety standard is the comprehensive solution to protect letter carriers and all workers who work outside from the heat. NALC supports efforts that will accelerate the regulatory process to fully implement this critical rule.”