Senate Confirms Doug Parker to Serve as Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health

Senate votes to confirm Doug Parker by a vote of 50-41

Senator Murray: “At every step in his career, Mr. Parker has been a dogged advocate for worker safety—and I have no doubt that will continue when he is confirmed to lead OSHA.”

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, the Senate voted to confirm Doug Parker to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) by a vote of 50-41. In remarks on the Senate floor, Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, reiterated her strong support for Mr. Parker, and stressed that our nation’s workforce depends on having experienced leaders at OSHA who will keep workers safe and help rebuild a stronger and fairer workforce.

“At every step in his career, Mr. Parker has been a dogged advocate for worker safety—and I have no doubt that will continue when he is confirmed to lead OSHA,” said Senator Murray.

In her remarks, Senator Murray highlighted Mr. Parker’s long record as a champion for workplace safety, including his experience as attorney for the United Mine Workers, as a partner at a labor and employment law firm in Washington, DC, and as a senior official at the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. Senator Murray also noted Mr. Parker’s service as Chief of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, where he worked to protect workers in California throughout the pandemic. Senator Murray emphasized that after a public health crisis which put a spotlight on OSHA’s critical role, we need qualified leaders at the agency to implement safety standards and keep workers protected.

“This pandemic has put OSHA’s critical work in the spotlight—and underscored the agency’s responsibility to act and keep workers safe. I’m glad President Biden has called on the agency to take the critical step of setting forward an emergency temporary standard to require large employers to use appropriate tools—like vaccines and testing—to keep workers safe from COVID-19. And I hope to see progress on this front soon,” said Senator Murray. “Actions like this can save countless lives, and are a reminder of why it’s so critical we have an experienced leader at OSHA who will do everything in their power to champion worker safety, and Mr. Parker’s record shows he’s been doing that his entire career.”

Senator Murray’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:

“M. President, next I would also like to speak about President Biden’s nominee to serve as Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health—Doug Parker.

“This pandemic has put OSHA’s critical work in the spotlight—and underscored the agency’s responsibility to act and keep workers safe.

“I’m glad President Biden has called on the agency to take the critical step of setting forward an emergency temporary standard to require large employers to use appropriate tools—like vaccines and testing—to keep workers safe from COVID-19.

“And I hope to see progress on this front soon.

“Actions like this can save countless lives, and are a reminder of why it’s so critical we have an experienced leader at OSHA who will do everything in their power to champion worker safety, and Mr. Parker’s record shows he’s been doing that his entire career.

“Mr. Parker has worked to protect workers in his state throughout this pandemic as Chief of California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health, starting with his move to swiftly issue health guidance back in February of 2020, when there were only 13 cases of COVID-19 in the country.

“But even well before this pandemic, he had an established record fighting for workers’ safety as an attorney for the United Mine Workers, a partner at a labor and employment law firm in Washington, DC, and a senior official at the Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration during one of the best streaks of safety in the industry’s history.

“When he previously left the Department of Labor, he went on to serve as the Executive Director of Worksafe—a legal aid non-profit focused on worker health and safety.

“At every step in his career, Mr. Parker has been a dogged advocate for worker safety—and I have no doubt that will continue when he is confirmed to lead OSHA.

“M. President, given the urgency of this pandemic, and the clear qualifications of this nominee, I hope all of my colleagues will join me in voting in support of Mr. Parker’s nomination.

“Thank you.”

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