Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act of 2025
Summary
The Farmworker Smoke and Excessive Heat Protection Act of 2025 aims to establish an occupational safety and health standard to protect farmworkers from the hazards of wildfire smoke and excessive heat. It mandates that the Secretary of Labor create and enforce standards requiring agricultural employers to provide protective equipment, training, and rest breaks for farmworkers when air quality or heat levels reach dangerous levels. The bill also emphasizes collaboration with community organizations to ensure effective outreach and training, especially for hard-to-reach farmworkers.
Expected Effects
This act will likely lead to improved working conditions and health outcomes for farmworkers by mitigating the risks associated with wildfire smoke and excessive heat. It will also increase costs for agricultural employers who will need to provide equipment, training, and rest breaks. The Act could also lead to increased enforcement and oversight by the Department of Labor.
Potential Benefits
- Improved health and safety for farmworkers.
- Reduced risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
- Increased awareness and training on the dangers of wildfire smoke and excessive heat.
- Enhanced collaboration between employers, the Department of Labor, and community organizations.
- Potential for increased productivity due to improved worker health and safety.
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased operational costs for agricultural employers.
- Potential for increased regulatory burden and compliance requirements.
- Possible challenges in enforcing the standard across diverse agricultural settings.
- Potential for disputes between employers and employees regarding the implementation of the standard.
- Risk of unintended consequences if the standard is not appropriately tailored to specific regional and agricultural contexts.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The Act appears to align with the Constitution's broad goals of promoting the general welfare (Preamble). Congress has the power to regulate interstate commerce (Article I, Section 8), which could be used to justify federal regulation of agricultural workplaces. The Act does not appear to infringe on any specific constitutional rights, such as freedom of speech or religion (First Amendment).
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).