[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 87 (Friday, May 8, 2020)]
[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.

                          ____________________