High Country Times

WASHINGTON – Education and the Workforce Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) has strongly criticized the Mine Safety and Health Administration’s (MSHA) final silica rule. Foxx expressed her concerns in a statement, highlighting the negative impact of the rule on the mining industry.

Foxx stated, “The Department of Labor’s wrongheaded recklessness in pushing through this final rule serves as a serious detriment to the mining industry – the feedback of stakeholders has largely been ignored in this process. MSHA failed to consider that many of the rule’s requirements are completely unworkable in the field. Yet again, DOL’s economic illiteracy has pressed a thumb down upon an industry that’s one of America’s premiere economic drivers.”

The final silica rule by MSHA has faced criticism from stakeholders, with Foxx's remarks reflecting broader concerns within the industry. The rule's implications on mining operations and its feasibility in practical settings have been questioned by various parties.

The statement from Chairwoman Foxx sheds light on the challenges and reservations surrounding the implementation of the MSHA's final silica rule. As discussions and debates continue on the topic, the impact on the mining sector remains a point of contention for industry stakeholders and policymakers alike.