Congress returns from its annual "summer recess" the first week of September to finish up all sorts of unfinished business, including OSHA's budget for fiscal year 2003.

OSHA was funded in FY02 at $442.9 million, and received an approximate six percent reduction in funds for FY03 from the Bush administration, to $437 million.

But the Senate increased OSHA's budget by $26.1 million, raising its FY03 budget numbers to $469 million.

The House has yet to act on its version of OSHA funding, and probably will stick with the Bush numbers. So look for a compromise in the end, meaning OSHA again should receive a slight spending increase.