Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Messmer (R-IN) announced the introduction of the Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 in the House of Representatives. Rep. Messmer’s legislation repeals sweeping and unworkable Biden Administration heat standards that had threatened to impel unnecessary mandates and excessive federal penalties upon American businesses and institutions.

“As a small business owner myself, I’ve seen how unwarranted, heavy-handed regulations can crush innovation, increase costs, and undermine the productivity of American institutions,” said Rep. Messmer. “The Biden Heat Rule was never about safety, but was rather, unsurprisingly, focused upon expanding federal bureaucratic control over hard working Americans. My Heat Workforce Standards Act empowers employers to maintain safe and realistic workplace standard parameters which allow for both their workers and the business to thrive.”

“Americans deserve safe workplaces—yet the Biden-Harris administration’s heavy-handed approach to heat safety will hurt workers instead of helping them. Needless to say, California, Florida, and Michigan are miles apart when it comes to heat, and heat hazards in construction are very different from the hazards in manufacturing or agriculture. That is why any standard intended to prevent and reduce heat-related injuries must be flexible and keep workers safe in ways that best address their unique environments and challenges. The Biden-Harris proposed heat rule does not have that much-needed flexibility, which is why this bill is a necessary step in protecting workers and preventing federal overreach so we can help workers earn a living and get home safe,” said House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg.

As a small business owner himself, Rep. Messmer supports creating a better working environment for Hoosiers and all American businesses and institutions by eliminating unwarranted red tape and regulations. The Heat Workforce Standards Act of 2025 is a step in the right direction.

BACKGROUND:

Near the end of the Biden Administration, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) attempted to fast-track a policy known as “The Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings.” In practice, the rule would have forced nearly every American business and institution to follow rigid, one-size-fits-all, federal workplace standards based on predetermined temperature thresholds, regardless of industry, climate, or existing safety protocols.

This rule would create a one-size fits all regulatory approach for most of the American workforce that experience exposure to temperatures of 80 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 15 minutes in any given hour.

State governments already have the authority to establish their own occupational safety and health standards and are required to have their plans be “at least as effective” as Federal OSHA standards.

If it had been implemented, the Biden’s Heat Rule would:

• Place redundant and egregious regulation requirements with little variance considered for industry-specific outdoor and indoor heat variables and differences in outdoor climates between all 50 states
• Fail to recognize employers who already have heat injury prevention measures in place
• Mandate federal intervention and costly fines should small businesses not match the federal criteria
• Remove state governments’ ability to create targeted Heat Rules that are specific to their climate and local industries

Original cosponsors include Reps. Glenn Grothman (R-WI), Harriet Hageman (R-WY), Daniel Webster (R-FL), Michael Baumgartner (R-WA), Rob Wittman (R-VA), Mary Miller (R-IL), Brad Finstad (R-MN), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), Andy Harris (R-MD), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Ben Cline (R-VA), Bob Onder (R-MO), Chip Roy (R-TX), John McGuire (R-VA), Sheri Biggs (R-SC), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), Adrian Smith (R-NE), David Rouzer (R-NC), Pat Harrigan (R-NC), Brian Jack (R-GA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Jen Kiggans (R-VA), and Lance Gooden (R-TX).

“The Biden administration’s proposed OSHA heat standard is a sweeping, one-size-fits-all mandate that would burden employers, strain our workforce, and undermine industries that already operate under rigorous safety protocols. The Heat Workforce Standards Act is a necessary check on this regulatory overreach. By preventing this costly and unworkable rule from taking effect, we protect jobs, safeguard American productivity, and ensure that workplace safety standards remain practical, science-based, and responsive to real-world conditions—not driven by Washington bureaucrats,” said Rep. Paul Gosar.

“Frankly, Democrats have never met a burdensome, costly regulation they didn’t like. The Biden-Administration-proposed OSHA Heat Standard is a one-size-fits-all mandate that will impose sweeping, reckless requirements on businesses nationwide - with no regard for regional climate differences or industry-specific job needs. OSHA is responsible for regulating occupational safety and health hazards, and I believe we need to make that distinction clear, so employers aren’t forced to shoulder unnecessary, irrelevant, and costly compliance burdens. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation to prevent this destructive policy from taking hold - it’s bad for business, bad for our economy, and bad for our nation,” said Rep. Bob Onder.

“The Heat Rule is an example of executive overreach — creating costly, inflexible requirements and mounds of paperwork for small business owners across Virginia's First District. I am proud to support the Heat Workforce Standards Act, which overturns this burdensome regulation and ensures similar rulings must have the consent of Congress,” said Rep. Rob Wittman.

The Heat Workforce Standards Act also has the support of numerous organizations, including: Alliance for Chemical Distribution, American Bakers Association, American Building Materials Alliance, American Craft Spirits Association, American Short Line and Regional Railroad Association, American Supply Association, Drycleaning & Laundry Institute, Global Cold Chain Alliance, Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International, Independent Electrical Contractors, Inc., Job Creators Network, Mason Contractors Association of America, National Apartment Association, National Association of Electrical Distributors, National Federation of Independent Business, National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association, National Ready Mixed Concrete Association, National Restaurant Association, National RV Dealers Association, National Small Business Association, NATSO, Representing America's Travel Centers and Truck Stops, North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers, Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, Steel Manufacturers Association, and Steel Tank Institute/Steel Plate Fabricators Association.

“Small businesses overwhelmingly oppose the Biden Administration’s proposed OSHA Heat Standard as it would add unworkable, new, one-sized-fits-all mandates and dramatically increase the federal government’s regulatory control over their business. Small businesses are already taking steps to ensure their workers do not experience a heat-related injury or illness. Yet, the Biden Administration’s proposed OSHA Heat Standard fails to recognize this fact and instead would cripple small businesses, who work without government intervention to protect their employees’ health and safety, with more mandates and regulatory burdens. NFIB strongly supports the Heat Workforce Standards Act to prevent the burdensome proposed OSHA Heat Standard from being implemented. Small businesses thank Representative Messmer for his leadership and urge Congress to promptly enact the legislation.” – Dylan Rosnick, Principal of Federal Government Relations, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB)

To learn more about how Rep. Messmer is working for small businesses in Indiana’s 8th Congressional District, click here.

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