Watson Coleman Cosponsors the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act

April 21, 2020 (Ewing, NJ) – Today Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced H.R. 6559 – The COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act of 2020, alongside Education and Labor Committee Chairman Bobby Scott (VA-3). The bill would require the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard, based on CDC guidance, to protect workers from exposure to infectious diseases in the workplace. The standards would be issued within seven days of the bill’s passage, and cover all workers and workplaces. The bill would also require OSHA to forbid employers from retaliating against workers for reporting infection control problems.

“This past Friday I called on House leadership to implement stronger safety standards for our essential workers as they continue to perform their duties during this period of heightened risk,” said Watson Coleman. “This bill addresses many of my concerns and I’ll be working with my colleagues to see it passed so all workers, be they essential or non-essential, are afforded adequate protection from COVID-19 and to prevent further spread.”

Cosponsors of The COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act include Workforce Protections Subcommittee Chairwoman Alma Adams (NC-12), and Representatives Donna Shalala (FL-27), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Frederica S. Wilson (FL-24), Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Brenda L. Lawrence (MI-14), Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Susan Wild (PA-07), Eliot L. Engel (NY-16), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Max Rose (NY-11), Abby Finkenauer (IA-01), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Andy Levin (MI-09), David Trone (MD-06), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Joseph D. Morelle (NY-25), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Tom Suozzi (NY-03), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Raul M. Grijalva (AZ-03).

Text of the bill can be found here.

Text of Rep. Watson Coleman’s letter to Leadership can be found here.