On the recordNovember 21, 2019
Let me be clear, the safety of our Nation's healthcare and social service workers is not a partisan issue. Regardless of political beliefs, all of us in this Chamber can appreciate the hard work and empathy that healthcare workers and community caregivers demonstrate every single day on the job. Their dedication to caring for the most vulnerable members of our communities is extraordinary, and these workers deserve our gratitude, our respect, and our commitment to ensuring they are safe on the job. The nature of the work in these industries requires healthcare and social services workers to interact directly with individuals who are experiencing tremendous stress, trauma, and grief, which can cause situations to devolve and put workers' safety at risk. American workers should be kept out of harm's way on the job, so they can return home to their families every day healthy and safe. These caregivers deserve protections, but H.R. 1309 is not the right way to address this important issue. Our healthcare workers and caregivers deserve a thoroughly vetted and researched solution that protects them in the workplace. I think we can do better by working together. Madam Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
