HB 23-13: Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution (Passed)

[thumb21]

SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS OF THE 2019-2020 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RESOLUTION

To express support for frontline workers of the COVID–19 pandemic.

Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia assembled

SECTION I: TITLE.
This law shall be referred to as the Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution.

SECTION II: FINDINGS.

(a) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that as of the 3rd of April 2020, there are hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases of COVID–19 in Atlasia and growing.

(b) Health care workers continue to provide excellent care despite the risks.

(c) First responders, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement, and other emergency management personnel, are facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and serve their communities.

(d) Grocery and food service workers across the Nation are working to meet the essential demands of keeping shelves stocked and preparing food for the United States amid COVID–19, while facing a greater infection risk from higher levels of public interaction.

(e) Farmworkers continue working hard in the fields to harvest the produce that feeds families across America every day.

(f) Public works employees, including sanitization personnel, continue to keep our streets and public spaces clean.

(g) Postal and delivery workers continue to keep their delivery operations working as part of the Nation’s critical infrastructure by delivering medicines, Social Security checks, and other essential goods.

SECTION III: DEFINITIONS.

(a) Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease shall by refered to by its acronym "COVID-19" for the purposes of this bill.

(b) "Frontline workers" shall refer to the occupations specified in Section II Parts (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) for the purposes of this bill.

SECTION IV: RESOLUTION.

Be it resolved, that Congress -

(a) Honors and recognizes the contributions of all frontline workers; and

(b) Reaffirms the responsibility of Congress to finds ways to meet the needs of frontline workers for the most effective personal protective equipment and other necessary tools to safely carry out their jobs.

SECTION V: ACTION.

(a) Frontline workers shall recieve first priority for COVID-19 testing.

(b) The Department of Health & Human Services is instructed to operate COVID-19 testing facilities within a 1 mile radius of every hospital.

SECTION VI: IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.

Sponsor: Thumb21
House Designation: HB 23-13

72 hours to debate.

[thumb21]

Another coronavirus bill.

This is extremely simple, we must support our essential workers who are bravely supporting patients with coronavirus and working hard to keep our country safe. Since their work puts them at most risk of catching the virus, they should recieve priority for testing and it should be available especially near hospitals so staff and patients can get regular testing. The virus can spread to very vulnerable patients who we know are most endangered, and it is important that we know who has it so they can self isolate and get treatment.

[thumb21]

Does anyone have any issues with this or other things that could be added?

As with the other bill, if there are no issues I want to go to a final vote in the next few days.

[cinyc]

I have a concern with V(b). I don't think setting up that many testing centers is logistically possible.

[thumb21]

I have a concern with V(b). I don't think setting up that many testing centers is logistically possible.

Sorry for the delay. I think it is possible, makeshift facilities have been set up in tents in car parks for example. Of course its not something that can be popped up in an instant and tests have to be mass produced and also repeatedly made sure they are effective, perhaps better wording would be "to work towards".

[cinyc]

I have a concern with V(b). I don't think setting up that many testing centers is logistically possible.

Sorry for the delay. I think it is possible, makeshift facilities have been set up in tents in car parks for example. Of course its not something that can be popped up in an instant and tests have to be mass produced and also repeatedly made sure they are effective, perhaps better wording would be "to work towards".

We have neither enough tests nor enough sites or staff, particularly in densely-packed urban areas.

Amendment:

(b) The Department of Health & Human Services is instructed to operate COVID-19 testing facilities for at least every three hospitals in Atlasia.

[thumb21]

I have a concern with V(b). I don't think setting up that many testing centers is logistically possible.

Sorry for the delay. I think it is possible, makeshift facilities have been set up in tents in car parks for example. Of course its not something that can be popped up in an instant and tests have to be mass produced and also repeatedly made sure they are effective, perhaps better wording would be "to work towards".

We have neither enough tests nor enough sites or staff, particularly in densely-packed urban areas.

Amendment:

(b) The Department of Health & Human Services is instructed to operate COVID-19 testing facilities for at least every three hospitals in Atlasia.

Every 3 hospitals would work in cities where you have hospitals near enough to eachother, but in towns and rural areas, hospitals are too spread out. I'll have an amendment tomorrow.

[thumb21]

SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS OF THE 2019-2020 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RESOLUTION

To express support for frontline workers of the COVID–19 pandemic.

Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia assembled

SECTION I: TITLE.
This law shall be referred to as the Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution.

SECTION II: FINDINGS.

(a) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that as of the 3rd of April 2020, there are hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases of COVID–19 in Atlasia and growing.

(b) Health care workers continue to provide excellent care despite the risks.

(c) First responders, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement, and other emergency management personnel, are facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and serve their communities.

(d) Grocery and food service workers across the Nation are working to meet the essential demands of keeping shelves stocked and preparing food for the United States amid COVID–19, while facing a greater infection risk from higher levels of public interaction.

(e) Farmworkers continue working hard in the fields to harvest the produce that feeds families across America every day.

(f) Public works employees, including sanitization personnel, continue to keep our streets and public spaces clean.

(g) Postal and delivery workers continue to keep their delivery operations working as part of the Nation’s critical infrastructure by delivering medicines, Social Security checks, and other essential goods.

SECTION III: DEFINITIONS.

(a) Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease shall by refered to by its acronym "COVID-19" for the purposes of this bill.

(b) "Frontline workers" shall refer to the occupations specified in Section II Parts (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) for the purposes of this bill.

SECTION IV: RESOLUTION.

Be it resolved, that Congress -

(a) Honors and recognizes the contributions of all frontline workers; and

(b) Reaffirms the responsibility of Congress to finds ways to meet the needs of frontline workers for the most effective personal protective equipment and other necessary tools to safely carry out their jobs.

SECTION V: ACTION.

(a) Frontline workers shall recieve first priority for COVID-19 testing.

(b) The Department of Health & Human Services in co-operation with regional, state and local authorities is instructed to work towards operating COVID-19 testing facilities within a 1 5 mile radius of every hospital.
  (i) Where multiple hospitals are located within 10 miles of eachother, the Department of Health & Human Services may instead opt to set-up testing facilities at a convenient point in-between the hospitals.

(c) The Department of Health & Human Services is instructed to liaise with the Attorney General using the authority granted in EO 49 #008 to ensure adequate provision of:
  (i) Testing equipment.
  (ii) Personal protective equipment.
  (iii) Ventilators.
  (iv) Masks.

SECTION VI: IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.

[thumb21]

An amendment to try and deal with some of the issues raised by Cinyc, while still being more flexible in areas where hospitals are fewer and further between. Also trying to use the invokation of the Defence Production Act to make sure that proper protective equipment is available.

[thumb21]

Motion for a final vote

[cinyc]

I’ll second that motion.

[thumb21]

Suppose it wouldn't hurt to open the vote 30 minutes early.

Final vote

48 hours

[Leinad]

Aye

[thumb21]

Aye

[cinyc]

Aye

[Lumine]

Aye!

[Elcaspar]

Aye

[thumb21]

This has enough votes to pass, 24 hours to change your vote.

[thumb21]

Passed

5-0-0-4

[thumb21]

SUPPORT FOR FRONTLINE WORKERS OF THE 2019-2020 CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC RESOLUTION

To express support for frontline workers of the COVID–19 pandemic.

Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Atlasia assembled

SECTION I: TITLE.
This law shall be referred to as the Support for Frontline Workers of the 2019-2020 Coronavirus Pandemic Resolution.

SECTION II: FINDINGS.

(a) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show that as of the 3rd of April 2020, there are hundreds of thousands of confirmed cases of COVID–19 in Atlasia and growing.

(b) Health care workers continue to provide excellent care despite the risks.

(c) First responders, including firefighters, emergency medical technicians, law enforcement, and other emergency management personnel, are facing unprecedented challenges to stay healthy and serve their communities.

(d) Grocery and food service workers across the Nation are working to meet the essential demands of keeping shelves stocked and preparing food for the United States amid COVID–19, while facing a greater infection risk from higher levels of public interaction.

(e) Farmworkers continue working hard in the fields to harvest the produce that feeds families across America every day.

(f) Public works employees, including sanitization personnel, continue to keep our streets and public spaces clean.

(g) Postal and delivery workers continue to keep their delivery operations working as part of the Nation’s critical infrastructure by delivering medicines, Social Security checks, and other essential goods.

SECTION III: DEFINITIONS.

(a) Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). This disease shall by refered to by its acronym "COVID-19" for the purposes of this bill.

(b) "Frontline workers" shall refer to the occupations specified in Section II Parts (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) for the purposes of this bill.

SECTION IV: RESOLUTION.

Be it resolved, that Congress -

(a) Honors and recognizes the contributions of all frontline workers; and

(b) Reaffirms the responsibility of Congress to finds ways to meet the needs of frontline workers for the most effective personal protective equipment and other necessary tools to safely carry out their jobs.

SECTION V: ACTION.

(a) Frontline workers shall recieve first priority for COVID-19 testing.

(b) The Department of Health & Human Services in co-operation with regional, state and local authorities is instructed to work towards operating COVID-19 testing facilities within a 5 mile radius of every hospital.
  (i) Where multiple hospitals are located within 10 miles of eachother, the Department of Health & Human Services may instead opt to set-up testing facilities at a convenient point in-between the hospitals.

(c) The Department of Health & Human Services is instructed to liaise with the Attorney General using the authority granted in EO 49 #008 to ensure adequate provision of:
  (i) Testing equipment.
  (ii) Personal protective equipment.
  (iii) Ventilators.
  (iv) Masks.

SECTION VI: IMPLEMENTATION.

(a) This act shall take effect immediately upon passage.

House of Representatives
Passed the House of Representatives 5-0-0-4

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Aye ftr... have been away the past few days so apologies for not voting on this

[RC (a la Frémont)]

Aye ftr... have been away the past few days so apologies for not voting on this

Same here, unfortunate as this was necessary to pass.