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119-s-3812119th CongressWALLET

WORK to Save Lives Act

Sponsored By: Senator Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

In Committee

Summary

Pushes workplaces to make opioid overdose reversal medication and annual employee training widely available. This bill would direct OSHA to issue nonbinding guidance for private employers and require Federal agencies to adopt binding rules on the same topics within 270 days.

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  • Private employers: OSHA would publish nonmandatory guidance within 270 days on acquiring and maintaining opioid overdose reversal medication and on training employees annually.
  • Federal agencies and employees: Federal agencies would be required to acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication and to provide annual training for staff. The Veterans Health Administration is explicitly included.
  • United States Postal Service: The bill excludes the USPS from the private employer guidance so USPS workplaces would not be covered by that nonbinding guidance.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Guidance for private employers on overdose kits

This bill would direct the Labor Secretary, through OSHA, to publish nonmandatory guidance for private employers within 270 days after enactment. The guidance would advise how to acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication and how to train employees each year to use it. The bill would use OSHA's usual definition of “employer” but would exclude the United States Postal Service. The guidance would be voluntary and would not itself impose binding duties on private employers.

Overdose kits required in federal workplaces

This bill would require the Labor Secretary, through OSHA, to issue regulations within 270 days after enactment that require each Federal agency to acquire and maintain opioid overdose reversal medication and to train employees annually on its use. The rule would apply to any agency or instrumentality of the Federal Government and would specifically include the Veterans Health Administration, notwithstanding 38 U.S.C. 7425(b). These requirements would be binding on federal agencies.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Merkley, Jeff [D-OR]

OR • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

    AK • R

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 2/10/2026

  • Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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