U.S. House considers new combustible dust rules

The U.S. House is considering legislation that would impose new safety standards to protect workers from combustible dust explosions. The measure comes in response to the explosion that killed 13 people at the Imperial Sugar refinery outside Savannah on February 7th. House Democrats favor the bill’s passage, while Republicans want to wait for results of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s investigation before considering new regulations. The White House has threatened to veto the measure in its current form.

U.S. House approves Norwood honor

The United States House has voted unanimously to rename the Veterans Affairs medical center in Augusta after the late Rep. Charlie Norwood. Lawmakers say it's a fitting way to honor the Augusta Republican and Vietnam War veteran who focused much of his 12-year congressional career on health care. Norwood, a dentist before winning his congressional seat in 1994, died Feb. 13 at age 65 after suffering from lung disease and cancer. A captain in the Vietnam War, Norwood was a member of the Army's dental corps and helped develop operating procedures for combat treatment that are still in use today. He became well-known for his efforts to pass a "patients' bill of rights" aimed at giving consumers better access to care. The bill now goes to the Senate.