{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/vasquez-announces-legislation-support-health-care-energy-workers-new-mexicos", "Vasquez Announces Legislation to Support Health Care for Energy Workers in New Mexico\u2019s Permian Basin", "2023-08-17", "2023", "2023-08", "Democrat", "House", "NM", "Gabe Vasquez", "V000136", "vasquez.house.gov", "vasquez", "https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "HOBBS, N.M. \u2014 On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, Representative Gabe Vasquez (N.M.-02) announced H.R. 5222, The Energy Workers Health Improvement And Compensation Fund Act, to prioritize the health care of energy workers, holding accountable polluters and wealthy, out-of-state oil executives, during an event with Somos Un Pueblo Unido.\n\nVasquez worked closely with local energy workers in the Permian Basin, many of them Spanish-speaking and Latino, to better understand the challenges they and their families face amid record profits they\u2019ve generated for oil and gas barons and massive new investments in energy production in southeast New Mexico. Together, they crafted solutions to ensure the well-being of New Mexico\u2019s energy workers, their families and New Mexico communities, while protecting New Mexico\u2019s long-term economic prospects.\n\n\u201cOil-and-gas CEOs who are raking in record profits aren\u2019t the heart of our energy economy, it\u2019s the workers who risk their lives and health every day that power America\u2019s energy economy,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cThat\u2019s why I\u2019m standing by the workers, not the oil barons. I\u2019m focused on investing in the folks who have generated hundreds of millions in revenue for our state. This is hard work, and it\u2019s dangerous and tireless - if oil executives are getting paid over $35 million, they can afford dignified health care for their employees. This bill helps level the playing field.\u201d\n\nSpeaking in Hobbs, a community crucial to New Mexico\u2019s energy industry, Rep. Vasquez announced the details of TheEnergy Workers Health Improvement And Compensation Fund Act, which requires oil and gas companies to contribute to a fund to cover health expenses for workers and their families for conditions such as asthma, heat-related illness, and other respiratory and cardiovascular diseases associated with air pollution and prolonged exposure to methane emissions.\n\nImage\n\nAdditional photos are available at the link here.\n\nNew Mexico ranks forty-first in the nation for overall air quality and has a higher prevalence of asthma than the national average. Unhealthy air quality is most common in the Permian Basin due to methane leaks from oil wells. Notably, Hobbs\u2013where the event took place\u2013often has the worst air quality in the state, according to IQAir. According to the EPA, methane emissions and other volatile organic compounds irritate the lungs, exacerbate diseases such as asthma, and can increase susceptibility to respiratory illnesses, such as pneumonia and bronchitis.\n\nJust last week, on August 8, the EPA issued a $5.5 million fine to Mewbourne Oil Company for excessive air pollution which is linked to the illnesses covered by Vasquez\u2019s legislation. In July, the EPA levied a $1.285 million penalty against Callon Permian LLC for violations of the Clean Air Act. In March, the EPA fined Matador Production Company over $1.15 million for air quality violations, Permian Resources Operating, LLC $610,000 for methane emissions violations, and Chisholm Energy Operating, LLC $440,000 for unauthorized emissions that could negatively impact human health.\n\n\u201cThe workers in these fields slog through dangerous conditions and are often exposed to airborne toxins. I\u2019m making sure our energy workers are being prioritized, and that while the rich are getting richer, the companies and people responsible for creating these health disparities are being held accountable,\u201d said Vasquez. \u201cThe bottom line is that we can have responsible oil and gas production that protects our health and our communities. This bill supports the backbone of our New Mexico economy\u2014our energy workers.\u201d\n\nIn 2022, Exxon Mobile\u2019s CEO earned $35.9 million in total pay, while the median pay for Exxon\u2019s workers fell by 9 percent.\n\nOil and gas profits are not going to the workers\u2013they are going to wealthy CEOs, while the energy workers are living in RVs and temporary trailer homes, risking their health and safety. According to Somos Un Pueblo Unido, nearly half of energy workers have reported an injury on the job, the majority of which are permanent.\n\n\u201cNew Mexico relies heavily on oil and gas revenues, but lawmakers often ignore the grave cost to frontline communities and industry workers,\u201d said Marcela D\u00edaz, Executive Director of Somos Un Pueblo Unido. \u201cImmigrant families in the Permian Basin are disproportionately impacted by inadequate enforcement of health and safety standards, long hours, and extreme work conditions. That\u2019s why they are organizing and demanding adequate compensation, safer and better jobs, and more public investments in their families and communities. We are greatly encouraged by Congressman Vasquez\u2019s willingness to listen to and stand up for these essential workers, not just industry owners.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs a former industry worker who suffered injuries and health problems because of my job, I think this bill is a great first step in providing protection and compensation to essential oil and gas workers,\u201d said Manuel Garfio, a former oil worker and member of Somos Un Pueblo Unido, who is out of work because of an on-the-job vehicular accident and chronic illness. \u201cOur working conditions are inhumane. We do not receive fair compensation when injuries occur, or health problems emerge. I hope we can continue working with elected leaders like Congressman Vasquez to ensure our frontline communities are included in conversations about worker\u2019s rights and the need for a just transition for oil workers.\u201d\n\nNew Mexico\u2019s second congressional district is one of the top energy-producing districts in the country. Hobbs, New Mexico is located in Lea County, which produces more oil than any other county in the United States. In the Permian Basin, oil and gas production has increased nearly every year since 2013 and is on track to hit new records this year.\n\nThis new legislation combined with the event\u2019s focus on understanding the hardships faced by the predominantly Latino oil workers in New Mexico underscores Representative Vasquez\u2019s commitment to championing workers\u2019 rights and well-being.\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nH.R. 5222, The Energy Workers Health Improvement and Compensation Fund Act, would establish a trust fund that would provide reimbursement to energy workers for health costs associated with poor air quality and intense heat.\n\nThe fund would be paid for by energy companies and each company would be responsible for contributing an amount equal to the compensation provided to their ten highest paid employees.\n\nWorkers would be eligible to seek reimbursement for costs not covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid that are linked to asthma, heat-related illness, or other ailments determined to be linked to smog and methane exposure.\n\nBoth energy workers and their immediate families who live near oil extraction sites would be eligible to seek reimbursement through this fund.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T00:30:18Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://vasquez.house.gov/media/press-releases/vasquez-announces-legislation-support-health-care-energy-workers-new-mexicos"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.59355066716671, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}