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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E433-E434]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CORONAVIRUS FRONTLINE WORKERS FAIR PAY ACT OF 2020, H.R. 6709
_____
HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Friday, May 8, 2020
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, during the COVID-19 public health and
economic crisis, essential workers are confronting significant risks to
their health and the safety of their families in order to provide our
communities with life-sustaining services. Health care workers, grocery
store personnel, first responders, and other brave workers deserve
hazard pay for the risks they are taking to provide critical services
during this unprecedented national crisis.
On May 5, 2020 I was proud to introduce H.R. 6709, the Coronavirus
Frontline Workers Fair Pay Act of 2020, which would establish a
dedicated fund in the U.S. Treasury to provide employers with
coronavirus hazard pay funds to be passed on to high-risk health care
workers and other essential workers on the frontlines of the fight
against this virus. This hazard pay would be an important step in
recognizing the sacrifices and contributions of countless Americans,
including those health care workers that are in high risk positions.
H.R. 6709 would guarantee hazard pay for individuals working in high-
risk health care roles between January 27, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
For the purposes of H.R. 6709, the definition of ``high-risk health
care worker'' is intended to include, at minimum, individuals in the
following occupations, as specified under major group 29 or 31 in the
2018 Standard Occupational Classification System:
Pharmacists; Physician Assistants; Podiatrists; Respiratory
Therapists; Registered Nurses; Nurse Anesthetists; Nurse Midwives;
Nurse Practitioners; Anesthesiologists; Cardiologists; Dermatologists;
Emergency Medicine Physicians; Family Medicine Physicians; General
Internal Medicine Physicians; Neurologists.
Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Pediatricians, General; Physicians,
Pathologists; Psychiatrists; Radiologists; Physicians, All Other;
Ophthalmologists, Except Pediatric; Orthopedic Surgeons, Except
Pediatric; Pediatric Surgeons; Surgeons, All Other; Medical and
Clinical Laboratory Technologists; Medical and Clinical Laboratory
Technicians; Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians; Diagnostic
Medical Sonographers; Nuclear Medicine Technologists.
Radiologic Technologists and Technicians; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Technologists; Medical Dosimetrists; Emergency Medical Technicians;
Paramedics; Pharmacy Technicians; Psychiatric Technicians; Surgical
Technologists; Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses;
Surgical Assistants; Home Health Aides; Personal Care Aides; Nursing
Assistants; Orderlies; Psychiatric Aides.
This list is not exhaustive; but is illustrative of the many health
care workers that are facing extraordinary risks to keep Americans safe
[[Page E434]]
during this pandemic. As a nation, it is imperative that we ensure
essential workers are provided the pay they deserve for the risks they
take on behalf of us all.
____________________