Tell Congress to Act to Protect Health Care Workers

Congress has now passed two bills that begin to address the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and another is on the way. But these bills do not protect health care workers who are on the frontlines of the response.

Nurses across the country are reporting that they are not receiving the proper protective equipment they need to stay safe. And if nurses aren’t protected, patients aren’t protected.

Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) have introduced the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act (HR 6139/S 3475), which would protect frontline health care workers, patients and the public during this crisis. The third round of COVID-19 response legislation is expected to be unveiled in the next 24-48 hours and we need emergency phone calls to Congress to demand that this bill, as written, be included.

TAKE ACTION: Call our Members of Congress at 202-335-6015 and tell them to enact critical protections for health care workers NOW.

Alternatively, you can call directly—find contact information:

• Senator Robert Casey: http://casey.senate.gov
• Senator Pat Toomey: http://toomey.senate.gov
• Your Representative: http://www.house.gov

Call Script:

“Hi, my name is ___________, and I’m a constituent from _(city/town) . I’m calling to ask my representative to demand that H.R. 6139, the COVID-19 Health Care Worker Protection Act, be included in the next COVID-19 response legislation, and to vote YES on the House floor.

It is crucial that we take action to protect frontline health care workers, patients, and the public during this crisis. This bill would direct the federal government to enact an emergency temporary standard so that frontline nurses and other health care workers have the personal protective equipment they need to care for their patients during this pandemic.

If nurses become infected, they won’t be there when our loved ones need them. Protecting our frontline workers is necessary to contain this outbreak. Thank you.”

Right now, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has weakened its guidelines to allow hospitals to put health care workers at risk of exposure. If health care workers don’t wear respirators and other protective equipment it will result in more doctors and nurses who contract the virus needing to be put in 14 days of quarantine. This will take them away from patients’ bedsides, putting an enormous strain on our nation’s health care system.