(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) today joined Congresswomen Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) and 41 colleagues in urging Congressional leadership to include strong worker safety guidance and standards in future coronavirus response legislation.
The coronavirus crisis has raised serious concerns for workers surrounding their safety and sanitation of their workplaces. Questions remain across many industries – including manufacturing, service, and hospitality sectors – as the economy begins to reopen and what steps are necessary to keep employees safe.
“This is a transformative event for workplace safety, and our laws and regulations must transform as well. We cannot ask workers to make the impossible choice between not reporting to work and potentially losing their job or working in an unsafe environment, risking exposure to this deadly virus,” the lawmakers wrote. “Creating guidelines and a standard for workplace safety now will give workers the peace of mind and companies a valuable and timely blueprint on how to either continue their essential operations or re-open facilities while protecting their workforce and communities.”
The lawmakers urged future coronavirus response legislation to include language directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue emergency temporary standards followed by permanent guidance and standards for worker safety and health.
“I am spending much of time in the manufacturing sector with the autos, suppliers and the UAW worried about the workers. Understanding the changes being made in the plants to keep them safe and making sure that everyone understands and abides by new protocols. What has also become abundantly clear is that more and more PPE equipment is going to be needed not only in hospitals and for frontline workers, but all workers as the economy begins to start up. We are going to have to understand the significance of that need and ensure we develop a plan, including much more production in this country, of the equipment to protect all workers,” said Dingell.
“In the coming days, weeks, and months, residents will return to work and will need necessary protection and safety measures in place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus,” said Tlaib. “I’ve heard from workers across the district who are concerned about having to go into their place of work and putting themselves and their loved ones in harm’s way. Our residents should not be afraid to return to work and I encourage Congressional leadership to ensure safeguards are in place to put workers first.”
The letter was signed by Representatives Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Susan Wild (D-PA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Jesús G. “Chuy” García (D-IL), Ed Case (D-HI), Val Butler Demings (D-FL), Mark Takano (D-CA), Adam Smith (D-WA), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Anthony G. Brown (D-MD), Daniel T. Kildee (D-MI), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Sean Patrick Maloney (D-NY), José E. Serrano (D-NY), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Bill Foster (D-IL), Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), Katie Porter (D-CA), Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA), Mike Doyle (D-PA), André Carson (D-IN), Brian Higgins (D-NY), Bobby L. Rush (D-IL), David Trone (D-MD), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Judy Chu (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Gerald E. Connolly (D-VA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Joseph P. Kennedy, III (D-MA), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), David N. Cicilline (D-RI), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Peter A. DeFazio (D-OR), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Steve Cohen (D-TN), and Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA).
The letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is available here.