[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4905 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 4905
To establish the Energy Workers Compensation Fund to compensate energy
workers for certain medical expenses.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
August 5, 2025
Mr. Vasquez introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committee
on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish the Energy Workers Compensation Fund to compensate energy
workers for certain medical expenses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Energy Workers Health Improvement
and Compensation Fund Act''.
SEC. 2. ENERGY WORKERS COMPENSATION FUND.
(a) Creation of Trust Fund.--There is established in the Treasury
of the United States a trust fund to be known as the ``Energy Workers
Health Compensation Fund''.
(b) Deposits.--
(1) In general.--Each oil company shall pay with respect to
each calendar year (not later than March 31 of the calendar
year immediately following such calendar year) an amount equal
to the aggregate amounts paid as compensation (including the
fair market value of any deferred compensation) to the 10 most
highly paid (taking into account all compensation taken into
account under this subsection) employees of such company during
such calendar year. Such amounts shall be deposited into the
Energy Workers Health Compensation Fund.
(2) Penalties for underpayments.--If the Secretary of Labor
determines that the amount paid by any oil company with respect
to any calendar year is less than 98 percent of the amount
properly determined under paragraph (1), such oil company shall
pay an additional amount equal to 10 percent of such
difference. Such amount shall be deposited into the Energy
Workers Health Compensation Fund.
(3) Elective contributions.--An oil company may contribute,
in addition to any amount required to be paid under paragraph
(1) or (2), an additional amount to the Energy Workers Health
Compensation Fund not in excess of the amount required to be
paid under paragraph (1).
(4) Tax treatment of contributions.--No deduction shall be
allowed under section 162 (or any other provision) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for any amount required to be
paid under paragraph (1) or (2) or any amount contributed to
the Energy Workers Health Compensation Fund which is in excess
of the amount permitted under paragraph (3).
(c) Expenditures.--Amounts in the compensation fund shall be
available to the Secretary of Labor, without need of further
appropriation, for the purposes of section 3.
SEC. 3. COMPENSATION FOR MEDICAL EXPENSES.
(a) In General.--An eligible worker, or family member thereof,
shall be entitled to compensation in order to reimburse such eligible
worker (or family member thereof) for medical expenses, including
copayments and costs not covered by private insurance, Medicare, or
Medicaid, associated with--
(1) asthma;
(2) heat-related illness; and
(3) other respiratory or cardiovascular diseases determined
by the Secretary, in consultation with the Assistant Secretary
of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, to be associated
with methane emissions, high levels of smog, and exposure to
particulate matter and volatile organic compounds.
(b) Payment From Trust Fund.--The compensation under this section
shall be paid from the compensation fund established under section 2.
(c) Processing of Claims.--The Secretary shall provide the
compensation to which an individual is entitled under subparagraph (a)
in the order in which claims for compensation are received.
SEC. 4. IMPROVING HEALTH OUTCOMES.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall establish and appoint all
members of a commission on health outcomes of oil and gas workers.
(b) Membership.--
(1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of
members who represent diverse experiences and backgrounds that
provide balanced points of view with regard to the duties of
the Commission.
(2) Appointment.--The Secretary shall appoint the members
to the Commission, including representatives--
(A) from--
(i) the Department of Health and Human
Services;
(ii) the Department of Labor;
(iii) the National Institutes of Health,
who shall be a doctor who does research into
the subject matter of the Commission;
(iv) the Occupation Safety and Health
Administration;
(v) an immigration advocacy group; and
(vi) a labor advocacy group; and
(B) who are eligible workers employed by oil
companies, including one such representative from each
of the following States:
(i) Alaska.
(ii) Colorado.
(iii) Louisiana.
(iv) New Mexico.
(v) North Dakota.
(vi) Texas.
(3) Periods of appointment.--Members shall be appointed for
the duration of the Commission.
(4) Vacancies.--A vacancy in the Commission shall be filled
in the manner in which the original appointment was made and
shall not affect the powers or duties of the Commission.
(5) Compensation.--Commission members shall serve without
compensation.
(6) Travel expenses.--The Secretary shall consider the
provision of travel expenses, including per diem, to Commission
members when appropriate.
(c) Duties.--
(1) In general.--The Commission may hold such hearings,
meet and act at times and places, take such testimony, and
receive such evidence as the Commission considers to be
advisable to carry out the duties of the Commission under this
section.
(2) Recommendations for the department of labor.--
(A) In general.--The Commission shall develop
recommendations to the Secretary on actions the Federal
Government can take to study and improve health
outcomes of oil and gas workers.
(B) Submission.--Not later than 18 months after the
enactment of this Act, the Commission shall make
publicly available and submit all recommendations
developed under this paragraph to--
(i) the Secretary;
(ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate;
(iii) the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
(iv) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives; and
(v) the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives.
(C) Secretarial response.--Not later than 90 days
after the date on which the Secretary receives the
recommendations under paragraph (2), the Secretary
shall make publicly available and submit a written
response to the recommendations to--
(i) the Commission;
(ii) the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate;
(iii) the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions of the Senate;
(iv) the Committee on Energy and Commerce
of the House of Representatives; and
(v) the Committee on Natural Resources of
the House of Representatives.
SEC. 5. REPORT TO COMMISSION.
Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, and
annually thereafter, the Secretary of Labor shall report to the
Commission established under section 4(a) on the compensation fund,
including--
(1) deposits required under section 2(b); and
(2) compensation paid under section 3.
SEC. 6. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Eligible worker.--The term ``eligible worker'' means
any individual who--
(A) either--
(i) works or has worked within or around a
oil and gas extraction or exploration site for
not less than 1 year; or
(ii) lives or has lived within 20 miles of
such a site for not less than 1 year; and
(B) works or has worked for an oil company engaged
in oil and gas extraction or exploration or for a
company contracted to perform those duties.
(2) Family member.--The term ``family member'' means the
spouse, son, daughter, or parent of an eligible worker, if such
spouse, son, daughter, or parent lives or has lived within 20
miles of an oil and gas extraction or exploration site for not
less than 1 year.
(3) Oil company.--The term ``oil company'' means a company
engaged in oil or natural gas exploration or extraction with
annual revenue greater than $50,000,000.
(4) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Labor.
(5) Compensation fund.--The term ``compensation fund''
means the Energy Workers Health Compensation Fund established
under section 2.
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