By: Varsha Venkatakrishna and Lauren Kerr
GetUsPPE, alongside a coalition of labor and organizing partners, is hosting a HEROES ACT: Week of Action to urge the Senate to pass the HEROES Act (Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act). The bill is comprehensive, covering medical supply chains, employees and families, and vulnerable groups. It aims to mitigate the economic and public health effects of future stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Passing the HEROES Act will be critical in mitigating the effects of future outbreaks, particularly as states begin reopening. In its current format, the act will:
- Scale the national production and distribution of PPE
- Establish a database for monitoring medical supplies, drugs, and vaccines at local, state, and tribal levels
- Prevent price gouging of critical medical supplies
- Increase funding to support mobile testing and contact tracing
- Increase funding to enhance the manufacturing capacity for COVID-19 vaccines
- Establish a “Heroes’ Fund” to provide hazard pay to essential workers
- Eliminate COVID-19 treatment out of pocket costs for Medicaid beneficiaries and the uninsured
The House passed the HEROES Act on May 15th, 2020. Now, it is up to the Senate to pass this legislation and take a stand in support of our nation’s safety. As states begin to lift economic restrictions, additional outbreaks are expected unless swift, adequate measures are taken to protect frontline workers and isolate suspected cases. Therefore, it is vital that the HEROES Act is passed to provide the government with the tools and oversight needed to manage the next stage of the COVID-19 response. The nation must be prepared to protect its frontline healthcare professionals, essential workers, and vulnerable citizens if we are to get through this crisis intact.
GetUsPPE’s HEROES ACT: Week of Action is mobilizing our supporters to request their Senators’ support for the Act.
| TUESDAY MAY 26: CALL YOUR SENATOR |
WEDNESDAY MAY 27:
EMAIL YOUR SENATOR |
THURSDAY MAY 28:
LOCAL SENATOR |
| Calling your representative is easy with GetUsPPE.org’s Call Tool! Enter your zip code and follow our script to request your Senator’s support today. | Emailing representatives and their staffers is a powerful way to urge Senators to support important legislation.
You can find your Senator’s email at senate.gov. |
Based on guidance from the SEIU and NNU, we will focus our efforts on sending targeted emails to Senators critical for the bill’s passing, such as Senators Marco Rubio and Mitch McConnell. |
Varsha Venkatakrishna is a medical student in NYC and is the Advocacy Communications Lead at GetUsPPE.org.
Lauren Kerr works in clinical research in Boston and is involved in Advocacy Operations at GetUsPPE.org
