VPP Act Outreach Information


In order to better support VPP and the VPP Act, we need the help of VPP sites in your region. Congressional offices value hearing from constituents in their state or district. Included in this document are lists of senators and representatives that are key in your region. Reaching out can be is as simple as filling out an online form or making a quick phone call. It is preferable to leave an email message with your concerns in writing, but instructions for calling offices are included as well.

Our goal is to only have constituents contacting their representatives. For senators, this means comments from people from their state only. For representatives, only people in their districts. The Government Affairs Department is sorting every VPP site into congressional districts, but right now we are relying on your knowledge and experience in the chapters to reach out to the right worksites.

We would like to avoid email blasts and focus on direct contact with the individuals you know in the regions who can drive their coworkers to contact these offices. Included with this email are the VPP sties by state sorted by city. Each rep. office listed below includes links to the congressional district’s map.

If you have any questions, please contact Katlyn Pagliuca at kpagliuca@vpppa.org or (703) 761-6515.

Senate

Email form instructions (preferred method):

  1. Do I live in/Is my worksite in this state?
  2. Click on the comment form link for your senator (this section of the website is otherwise found under “Contact Me” or “Email Me”).
  3. Fill out your personal information as required.
  4. Most forms contain a topic or category selection. For this choose “Labor” or similar.
  5. If prompted for a message subject use “OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs”
  6. Include your message, we suggest the following:
    • I am writing to urge you to support OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs. Workers at my location are among the safest and healthiest in the nation thanks to VPP’s innovative and holistic approach to worker protection.

      For more than 30 years, VPP has protected U.S. workers by going above and beyond OSHA requirements, uniting labor, management and regulators. With injury and illness rates 50% below industry averages, VPP employers see dramatic savings through lower compensation costs while experiencing productivity gains. Federal participants pass on these benefits to taxpayers.

      VPP is a commonsense program that gives American industry an edge in the face of increasing global competition while ensuring workers like me return home safe to their families at the end of the day. I strongly urge your support of OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs. Thank you for your consideration.
  7. Review your form, then click “Submit” or “Send”, etc., at the bottom.

Phone comment instructions:

  • Do I live in/Is my worksite in this state?
  • Have what you would like to say in mind before you call, we suggest the following script:
    • Hello, my name is ______ and I’m calling from ______. I would like to strongly urge the senator’s support of the Voluntary Protection Programs. VPP is a commonsense OSHA program that protects workers at 2,200 worksites across the U.S. using innovative safety and health management systems, including my worksite, ______. VPP sites have injury and illness rates that are half those of their industry peers. Through cooperation among labor, management and regulators, VPP sites find innovative solutions to address workplace hazards. Please support VPP with legislation to codify OSHA’s premier program dedicated to workplace safety excellence and innovation.
  • When you call, say that you would like to comment on OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs. The staffer covering the main line may take your comment then, refer you to the staffer covering that issue for the office, or ask for your information to confirm you live in the state.
  • Your comment may simply be registered or followed-up with questions. Answer what you feel comfortable or simply state you only wanted to share your support of VPP.

New Mexico: Tom Udall (D)
Comment form: https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/?p=contact
D.C. Office: (202) 224- 6621

New Mexico: Martin Heinrich (D)
Comment form: https://www.heinrich.senate.gov/contact/write-martin
D.C. Office: (202) 224- 5521

House

Email form instructions (preferred method):

  1. Do I live in/Is my worksite in this district? If you are unsure, check here: http://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep?ZIP=
  2. Click on the comment form link for your representative (this section of the website is otherwise found under “Contact Me” or “Email Me”)
  3. Fill out your personal information as required
  4. Most forms contain a topic or category selection. For this choose “Labor” or similar
  5. If prompted for a message subject use “OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs”
  6. Include your message, we suggest the following:
    • I am writing to urge you to support H.R.2500, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Act. Workers at my location are among the safest and healthiest in the nation thanks to VPP’s innovative and holistic approach to worker protection.

      For more than 30 years, VPP has protected workers at 2,200 worksites across the U.S. by going above and beyond OSHA requirements, uniting labor, management and regulators. With injury and illness rates 50% below industry averages, VPP employers see dramatic savings through lower compensation costs while experiencing productivity gains. Federal participants pass on these benefits to taxpayers.

      VPP is a commonsense program that gives American industry an edge in the face of increasing global competition while ensuring workers like me return home safe to their families at the end of the day. I strongly urge you to support H.R.2500. Thank you for your consideration.
  7. Review your form, then click “Submit” or “Send”, etc., at the bottom

Phone comment instructions:

  1. Do I live in/Is my worksite in this district? If you are unsure, check here: http://ziplook.house.gov/htbin/findrep?ZIP=
  2. Have what you would like to say in mind before you call, we suggest the following script:
    • Hello, my name is ______ and I’m calling from ______. I would like to strongly urge the representative’s support of H.R.2500, the Voluntary Protection Program Act. VPP is a commonsense OSHA program that protects workers across America through innovative safety and health management systems, including my worksite ______. VPP sites have injury and illness rates that are half those of their industry peers. Through cooperation among labor, management and regulators, VPP sites find innovative solutions to address workplace hazards. H.R.2500 will ensure that VPP will continue to protect the safety of one million American workers.
  3. When you call, say that you would like to comment on OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Programs. The staffer covering the main line may take your comment then, refer you to the staffer covering that issue for the office, or ask for your information to confirm you live in the state.
  4. Your comment may simply be registered or followed-up with questions. Answer what you feel comfortable or simply state you only wanted to share your support of VPP.

Louisiana 2nd: Cedric Richmond (D)
Comment form: https://richmond.house.gov/contact-me/email-me  
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 6636
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/LA/2

New Mexico 1st: Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)
Comment form: https://lujangrisham.house.gov/contact
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 6316
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/NM/1

Texas 9th: Al Green (D)
Comment form: https://algreen.house.gov/contact-me/email-me
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 7508
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/9

Texas 16th: Beto O’Rourke (D)
Comment form: https://orourke.house.gov/correspondence/
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 4831
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/16

Texas 18th: Sheila Jackson Lee (D)
Comment form: https://jacksonlee.house.gov/contact
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 3816
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/18

Texas 20th: Joaquin Castro (D)
Comment form: https://castro.house.gov/contact/email-me
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 3236
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/20

Texas 28th: Henry Cuellar (D)
Comment form: http://cuellar.house.gov/contact/sendmeanemail.htm
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 1640
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/28

Texas 33rd: Marc Veasey (D)
Comment form: https://veasey.house.gov/contact/email-me
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 9897
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/33

Texas 34th: Filemon Vela (D)
Comment form: https://forms.house.gov/vela/webforms/email-me.shtml
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 9901
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/34

Texas 35th: Lloyd Doggett (D)
Comment form: https://forms.house.gov/doggett/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
D.C. Office: (202) 225- 4865
District map: https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/TX/35

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