Joe Courtney

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, it is with great sadness that I rise today to honor the life of the late Dorothy Ann Mrowka, of Colchester, Connecticut, who passed away at her home on April 29, 2021 at the age of 78. Known by everyone as Dot, her involvement in the civic and cultural communities of eastern Connecticut made her beloved by many. Born in New London, CT on October 13, 1942, Dot spent her entire life in eastern Connecticut. Committed to education, she earned a Masters degree in Business Administration which lead to a successful career as a computer programmer at AETNA insurance. She moved to Colchester in 1973 and then married her beloved husband Lucien Mrowka a short time later. They were married for 38 years before he sadly predeceased her in 2012. Truly, there is not an organization in Colchester that has not been touched by Dot. She was a devout parishioner at St. Andrews Church serving on the Ladies Guild and the First Friday Rosary Guild. Dot was an active member of both the St. Joseph's Polish Society and Colchester Grange No. 78. She was very involved with the Colchester Democratic Town Committee, and the Federation of Democratic Women. She was the recipient of the Ella Grasso award by Connecticut Democrats not once, but twice and selected to serve on the Democratic State Central Committee. Her service to the community did not stop there. Dot was a fierce defender of a free and fair election and served Colchester residents as the Registrar of Voter for 25 years. Many happy marriages began with her proclamation of ``I now pronounce you husband and wife'' as she served as a Justice of the Peace. Her selfless service to her community is unparalleled. I met Dot early in my career in Congress, and her friendship over the years has been invaluable. There are few in this district that knew their community as well as Dot did. She was a tireless campaign volunteer who never shied away from all the ``nuts and bolts'' of organizing a headquarters, leading phone banks, lit drops or election day logistics. The election eve ``get out the vote'' spaghetti supper at the Colchester Polish Club was a must stop for Democratic candidates at every level--including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in 2006. The void her passing leaves is unmeasurable. I know her memory will continue through her family--her son Jeffrey Watson; her daughter, Tammy and her husband Ricky Keller; her brother Joseph Ploszaj; her sisters Peggy Fedus and Mary Lou Johnson, and her two beloved grandchildren Tyler Kelly and Taylor Watson. Madam Speaker, it is an honor to represent constituents as honorable and impactful as Dot. While we all mourn her loss, we can at least find solace that her story, memory, and purpose lives on in through countless others. I find it fitting that we, the People's House, add her name and character into the Congressional Record and ask that the entire House join me in recognizing the life of Dorothy Ann Mrowka, never forgetting the importance of building our connections with others.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the distinguished career in public service of Vernon Police Chief James Kenny. Having pursued a 36-year long career toward the betterment of the local policing community, the latter 15 within my hometown of Vernon, Chief Kenny announced his decision to retire on July 9, 2021. As a resident of Vernon who directly benefited from Chief Kenny's commitment to ``Preserve and Protect'' and as a public official who has a front row seat to observe him in action, I can attest to his stellar record of public service. Born and educated in the nearby town of Rocky Hill, James was destined to deepen his roots within the region help and build upon the community ties that raised him. Connected to his commitment to the conununity was his passion for service: immediately upon his graduation from Rocky Hill High School in 1978, James enlisted into the United States Army. He trained as a military police officer and served oversees, ultimately receiving an honorable discharge. After returning home he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Bryant University with Honors, all the while working as a part time constable in Old Lyme, Connecticut. James Kenny initially joined the force as a patrol officer with the Glastonbury Police Department, a stone's throw away from his hometown, Rocky Hill. During his tenure at Glastonbury, his forward-thinking embracement of community policing and diligent work habits accelerated him through the ranks, rising in leadership to field training officer, sergeant, and then captain in the year 2000. He stayed on with the Glastonbury Department, serving as a supervisor in both the patrol and detective divisions until he transferred to the Vernon Police Department as a captain in 2006. It is worth noting that whilst serving within the Glastonbury Police Department, James pursued additional opportunities to serve the region such as when he became a founding member and then team leader to the Capital Region Emergency Services Team. Upon his retirement from Glastonbury's Police Department, James Kenny joined Vernon's Police Department in 2006 as a captain, becoming responsible for the entire operations of the local department. Of course, in transitioning to the Vernon Police Department, Captain James Kenny continued his advocacy of community policing in Vernon's neighborhoods, particularly the Rockville section of town. This proactive initiative did not go unnoticed, and it was not long before Captain Kenny became Police Chief Kenny in 2007. During his term, I had the opportunity to do some ``ride-alongs'' and witness the engagement with town residents that the chief himself and his officers practiced as part the ``Kenny Plan''. Presence was a major tenet of Vernon Police Chief Kenny's tenure as a leader in policing--not just for the region within the second district of Connecticut, but the entire state. He utilized this presence to grow the mission of and advocate for community policing. Shortly after becoming head of the Vernon Police Department, Chief Kenny was selected to sit on Governor Jodi Rell's Sentencing and Parole Review Task Force in order to thoroughly review policies involved in arresting, charging, sentencing and releasing those convicted of crimes in Connecticut. Around this same time, Chief Kenny also joined the Criminal Justice Policy Advisory Commission, for which he has remained on through to retirement. Even as our nation has brought to the forefront tough discussions on police reform, Police Chief Kenny and the Vernon Police Department remained a source of inspiration to the importance of a community-oriented and integrated local police force. It is worth noting that the Vernon Police Department, under the forward-thinking perspective of Chief Kenny, has long been a leader in this regard with the unit already having implemented policies to build trust within the town, such as through early utilization of body cameras and revisions to their authorized use of force. Madam Speaker, Chief Kenny has spent his life and career toward the betterment of his community. Chief Kenny has been a leader and a mentor to many people within and outside of the aforementioned policing departments. The town of Vernon owes him an endless amount of gratitude for his leadership in evolving an essential community service, particularly amidst the pandemic. He now retires to dedicate more time to his primary job as a devoted husband to his wife Theresa and a loving father of three daughters Lexie, Jacqueline and Jamie--the last of whom did an outstanding stint as an intern in my D.C. office. I cannot think of a gentleman more deserving of a fruitful retirement, the people of Vernon will truly miss his talented, caring service. To that end, I ask my colleagues in the House join me in honoring and thanking Vernon Police Chief James Kenny for his exemplary lifetime of service and wishing him and his family all the best in their life's new chapter.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the outstanding 34-year career in public safety of the City of Groton Police Chief Michael Spellman. Chief Spellman recently announced his retirement, after serving the public as a member of law enforcement in various capacities including resident state trooper for 25 years, followed by a stint as a detective in the statewide narcotics squad, and culminating in his appointment to the Chief of the Groton force. Throughout that long tenure he upheld the highest standards of ethics, professionalism, and compassion, never losing focus on his mission ``to protect and serve.'' A lifelong proud resident of the Pawcatuck section of Stonington, Michael is a proud alumnus of Stonington High School where he was involved in student government, a multi-sport Varsity letterman, and an honorable mention as an Offensive Guard on the 1980 New Haven Register All State Team. Michael demonstrated his leadership skills early in life and took his talents to Central Connecticut State University where he would earn his B.A. in political science and public administration. After earning his degree, Michael decided to dedicate himself to working on the front lines to protect the public as a law enforcement officer. In 1987, Michael graduated from the 96th Training Troop of The Connecticut State Police--the rest, they say, is history. Starting his career as a state trooper at Troop E in Montville, Michael served the community as a state police officer in East Lyme, Danielson, and Meriden. While simultaneously working as a state trooper--Michael was also active in several community coalitions including the Quality-of-Life Task Force, The Women's Center of Northeast Connecticut Community Partnership Team, the statewide Casino Unit, among many other organizations. His hard work and dedication was rewarded when he was named State Police Troop Commander in Colchester, where he took command over 100 sworn and civilian employees providing primary law enforcement for 11 municipalities and a population of over 100,000. Between 2010 and 2014, Michael briefly departed the realm of public service to join the private sector as a security consultant. Heeding the call back to public service, however, Michael joined Groton's local force as a patrol officer in 2014. As was expected with his extensive background--he climbed the ranks to Chief in 2017, going on to work as a critical asset in furthering Groton City Police Department's mission to ensure the safety and protection of our citizens. In his time as Chief of Groton Police Michael transformed the impact and culture of the local police force. His community policing style connected the department and members of the public in a way that allowed officers to work in tandem with citizens to tackle issues together. Under Michael's leadership the department also underwent an era of modernization, including joining the state radio system, implementing body cameras, de-escalation training, and hiring the first ALEC (Autism and Law Enforcement Education Coalition) certified instructor in Connecticut. These milestones exemplify only a small degree of what has been accomplished under Michael's leadership. For further example, in 2016 Michael made national headlines when he led the rescue mission to save a woman who accidently drove her car into the Thames River. This act garnered Michael and two fellow officers the department's Lifesaving Award. One of my most memorable experiences as a Congressman was joining Chief Spellman for a ride along in the city a couple of years ago. He showed me parts of the community that were experiencing difficulty with the opioid crisis, and I saw him in action personally checking for the health and safety of some the more vulnerable citizens who clearly regarded him as a friend and neighbor, not a threatening outsider. Police work is a difficult balancing act for even the most talented experienced officers, and he showed me his almost effortless skill in mastering that balance. Michael amassed a multitude of accolades and awards throughout his career including MADD awards for DWI enforcement and education, the Women's Center of NECT Connecticut Crisis Center Distinguished Professional Award, five Outstanding Service Medals, three Unit Citations, and many other recognitions. A heavily decorated career such as Chief Spellman's represents his true commitment to keeping the community safe. One final comment I would like to share is that Chief Spellman comes from a family in which public service is an honored tradition. His late father James, Senior was a longtime first selectman of Stonington who made a huge positive difference in southeastern Connecticut. His brothers also have been pillars in the community in various local and state offices and endeavors. I truly believe that his dad would be immensely proud of them all and applaud Michael's departure on his own terms with a sterling reputation that upholds the family's legacy. Madam Speaker, now, in May 2021, we sadly say goodbye to Michael's conscientious leadership. As he steps down from his post as Chief, we can only go on to hope that the example of his leadership will pass down to future generations within the Groton Police Department. I want to congratulate Michael on a civic service career spanning thirty-four years, and with this congratulations I ask the Chamber join me in appreciating Groton Police Chief Michael Spellman and his dedication to serving the public. We thank Michael for everything he has done as a first responder. Best wishes to him for a joyful retirement and I wish his wife Heather Buffinton and two children, Michael and Hannah, continued happiness, and success.

Mr. COURTNEY

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, as the designee of the chairman of the Committee on Education and Labor, pursuant to House Resolution 303, I call up the bill (H.R. 1195) to direct the Secretary of Labor to issue an occupational safety and health standard that requires covered employers within the health care and social service industries to develop and implement a comprehensive workplace violence prevention plan, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, if there is one lesson that all Americans have learned in the last year from the shared experience of the COVID pandemic, it is that our Nation's healthcare workers have truly been heroic, putting their lives and health at risk, treating and caring for millions of patients suffering from a scary deadly disease. I am sure that every Member in this Chamber at some point has tweeted, issued statements, held up signs thanking nurses, EMTs, doctors, and many other caregivers for their amazing work. But as all those brave workers can attest, there is a second colliding epidemic that they continue to face, namely, frightening levels of violence at rates that far exceed those faced by any other sector in our economy. The Bureau of Labor Statistics, which has studied this alarming phenomenon, found that 73 percent of all violent incidents that happen in American workplaces happen to healthcare and social assistance employees. Year after year, BLS tallies tens of thousands of violent incidents which could be prevented by the standard required by today's legislation. Today, we have the power right here in this Chamber to prevent this wave of violence by passing H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. The primary source of this violence comes in the form of assaults: kicking, hitting, spitting, even the use of firearms and other weapons from patients and those who accompany them. H.R. 1195 would require an enforceable workplace violence prevention standard within 42 months after enactment at about 200,000 healthcare centers, not small doctors' offices or clinics. The standard would require that covered employers develop a workplace violence prevention plan that is tailored to the specific conditions and hazards present at each workplace, not a one-size-fits-all mandate. Since 1996, OSHA has published voluntary guidelines that recommended many commonsense measures that employers can take to reduce the risk and severity of violent incidents. These guidelines are an excellent resource, but the fact that we continue to see an alarming growth in violence means that relying on ad hoc, voluntary adoption is failing to protect our healthcare heroes. We need an enforceable standard. Over the last 5 years, in the last two administrations, despite verbal support for an enforceable OSHA rule, nothing has moved in the rulemaking process. History shows that with no deadlines in statute, OSHA takes 15 to 20 years to issue a standard. Indeed, in the last administration, despite giving lip service for 3 years that they were creating a new rule, not one administrative step was actually taken to protect healthcare and social assistance workers. I want to be very clear. Right now, over at that agency, this issue is dead in the water. Every year we fail to address this situation, we are condemning thousands of nurses, doctors, aides, EMTs, and social workers to suffer preventable injuries, sometimes fatal, on the job. That is why a huge coalition of healthcare workers from the American College of Emergency Physicians, National Nurses United, American Nurses Association, EMTs, and many more have come together, begging Congress to enact this bill. No more delays. It is time that Congress puts a clock on this issue so that we can get the preventative measures in place nationwide that we know will save lives. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the chair of the committee, Mr. Scott, for his great support on this measure, as well as Chair Adams, the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections chair, as well as my Republican colleagues, because there actually is some agreement on the basics on this issue. Lastly, I want to thank our outstanding, stellar staff: Richard Miller; Jordan Barab, who is leaving us shortly, at the end of the month, for his incredible institutional knowledge and work; and Maria Costigan, from my office. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time. Committee on Energy and Commerce, House of Representatives, Washington, DC, March 26, 2021. Hon. Bobby Scott, Chairman, Committee on Education and Labor, Washington, DC. Dear Chairman Scott: I write concerning H.R. 1195, the ``Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act,'' which was additionally referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. In recognition of the desire to expedite consideration of H.R. 1195, the Committee on Energy and Commerce agrees to waive formal consideration of the bill as to provisions that fall within the rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The Committee takes this action with the mutual understanding that we do not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this or similar legislation, and that the Committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues within our jurisdiction. I also request that you support my request to name members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to any conference committee to consider such provisions. Finally, I would appreciate the inclusion of this letter in the report on the bill and into the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 1195. Sincerely, Frank Pallone, Jr., Chairman.

Mr. COURTNEY. Just to be clear, Madam Speaker, that CBO score is not per facility. That score is spread out over 200,000 healthcare centers. If you do the math, it is actually $9,000 per year per facility. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Bonamici), who is the chair of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Human Services.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Mrvan), an outstanding new member of the Committee on Education and Labor.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from AFT, which is a union that represents hundreds of thousands of frontline workers, including nurses, across the country in support of H.R. 1195.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), my neighbor and good friend.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, really quick, on page 11 of the bill it specifically states that the plans proposed to be adopted by OSHA would ``be tailored and specific to conditions and hazards for the covered facility or the covered service, including patient-specific risk factors and risk factors specific to each work area or unit.'' That is not one size fits all. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Garcia), a Member who can really bring a very powerful personal experience to this issue.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from North Carolina.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Very briefly, again, I appreciate that Ms. Foxx acknowledges the severity of this issue, and I think that is important. But I would note, if anyone checks with the House Clerk's office, we actually have a solid number of Republican cosponsors on this bill. I want to make that clear, for the record, and I appreciate their support as well. Madam Speaker, I yield 2\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott), the chair of the Committee on Education and Labor and an outstanding staunch supporter of this legislation.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I would just note that the bill language explicitly protects a comment period for all stakeholders, including hospitals and every other institution affected by it. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Adams), who is the chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections and a staunch advocate for this bill.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Stevens), an outstanding member of the Committee on Education and Labor who worked very diligently to protect the comment process called for in this bill.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. First of all, I just want to compliment Ms. Foxx about her very thoughtful remarks about what is driving this crisis out there for healthcare workers. There is no question that behavioral health and the heroin and opioid addiction--and we heard this from witnesses who testified before our committee. But I would respectfully suggest that the people who are actually out there on the front lines, the EMTs--their association has endorsed this bill--and the American College of Emergency Room Physicians--they are the ones right there taking in these very sort of high-risk, intense cases--have issued a letter of support for H.R. 1195 because they realize that what this bill will, in fact, create, is a safer system for better communication, better lighting, not leaving people alone with patients, who have been identified as high-risk. Really, all you have to do is talk to any ER doc. They will tell you it is tough out there, and we need to change. We need to have systems in place to better protect them. Madam Speaker, I include in the Record a letter of support from the American College of Emergency Physicians. American College of Emergency Physicians, March 23, 2021. Hon. Joe Courtney, Washington, DC. Dear Representative Courtney: On behalf of the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and our 40,000 members, thank you for introducing for H.R. 1195, the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act. ACEP appreciates your leadership to help establish procedures to ensure that emergency physicians, health care workers, social workers, and patients, are protected from violence in the workplace, and we urge Congress to swiftly consider and pass this important legislation. Violence in the emergency department is a serious and growing concern, causing significant stress to emergency department staff and to patients who seek treatment in the emergency department (ED). According to a survey conducted by ACEP in 2018, nearly half of emergency physicians polled reported being physically assaulted, with more than 60 percent of those occurring within the past year. Nearly 7 in 10 emergency physicians say ED violence has increased within the past 5 years. Beyond the immediate physical impacts, the risk of violence increases the difficulty of recruiting and retaining qualified health care professionals and contributes to greater levels of physician burnout. Most importantly, patients with medical emergencies deserve high-quality care in a place free of physical dangers from other patients or individuals, and care from staff that is not distracted by individuals with behavioral or substance-induced violent behavior. There are many factors contributing to the increase in ED and hospital violence, and like you, we recognize there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Employers and hospitals should develop workplace violence prevention and response procedures that address the needs of their particular facilities, staff, contractors, and communities, as those needs and resources may vary significantly. To this end, ACEP asks that Congress also take into consideration how emergency departments are staffed to ensure that the important provisions of this legislation are implemented in the most appropriate manner. As you are aware, emergency physicians may be employed in an ED in a variety of ways, whether directly employed through the hospital in an academic setting, or contracted as a member of a small democratic practice or a larger, national physician group. Given that emergency physicians and these groups do not control the resources of an individual facility that they staff, it would be neither practical nor effective to require contracted groups themselves to be responsible for implementing, tracking and reporting of violent incidents. ACEP believes that emergency physicians that contract with hospitals or facilities should not be held responsible for situations or hazards outside of their direct control; however, they can and should serve an integral role in developing effective violence prevention strategies. We appreciate your efforts to date to provide additional clarity on what a ``covered employer'' is ultimately responsible for, and ask Congress to ensure that any new federal requirements do not create any unintentional or undue burdens for entities that do not control the health care workplace. Once again, thank you for your leadership on this important issue. ACEP looks forward to working with you to ensure patients, health care workers, and all others in the emergency department (ED) are prepared for and protected against violent acts occurring in the department. Sincerely, Mark Rosenberg, DO, MBA, FACEP, ACEP President.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green), another outstanding supporter of this legislation.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Schakowsky).

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig).

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 15 seconds to the gentlewoman from Minnesota.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, just to clarify, the April 9 CBO report that came out, which, again, cited the numbers which were cited accurately by the opposition, is a number that is spread out over 200,000 facilities across the country. If you do the math, we are talking about $9,000 per facility per year. Ask yourself whether or not that figure, weighing the balance of what we are trying to protect here, which is people's health and lives, is worth it. I think most people would apply common sense to that and realize that it is not going to drive healthcare costs through the roof. In fact, it is going to protect workers and protect them from absenteeism. It is going to protect these institutions from high workers' compensation costs. It is just common sense. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Here is the good news. When we started this journey on this legislation back in 2013, a number of us requested a GAO report because we had heard anecdotal evidence about the fact that healthcare workers were experiencing this really disturbing level of violence that was something that people had really never seen before. GAO took 3 years, very methodically, as only they do. They are the gold standard, in terms of research. They brought in all the studies and all the evaluations. They verified, sadly, all the statistics that we have talked about here on the floor today. Seventy-three percent of incidents happen in these two sectors. The fact is that they not only verified that, but they showed that those numbers are actually underreported. What is happening out there is because we don't have any system that people can turn to when they are experiencing this kind of unacceptable behavior. They basically are in a situation where, most of the time, they just are saying suck it up, shake it off, that is part of the job, just move on, don't spend any time on that. In fact, what GAO told us is that the numbers that we are seeing in other sorts of reports underreport what is going on out there. We took that report, and we crafted legislation. We really did accommodate some of the issues that we have heard talked about on the floor here today, about ensuring that there is going to be an adequate comment period for all stakeholders. We want that. We understand that the hospital association, just like the emergency room doctors, just like the nurses, should all have their opportunity to weigh in, in terms of what is a viable, workable standard. But what we don't need is to have OSHA just sort of lapse into its notorious dysfunctional delays in terms of developing a workforce standard. Mr. Scott ticked off, again, some of the most recent examples: 2017 beryllium took 18 years, silica dust took 17 years. Again, when the last administration came to the committee, they said, ``We are going to start the process. We are going to begin a docket in terms of getting a rulemaking.'' And then the first scheduled date was delayed, and then the second scheduled date was delayed again, and on and on and on. Right now, today, as we stand here in this Chamber, there is nothing scheduled. When you really boil it down, where I think the disagreement exists-- and I am happy to acknowledge that, but I think it is a meaningful distinction--is that we are going to put this agency on the clock. We are telling them that, you know, you can follow the procedures, take the comment, but we are not going to sit back and allow this unacceptable trend to continue unaddressed. That agency was created back in the Nixon administration to protect America's workers, and as the branch of government that created them, we want them to develop a standard in a reasonable amount of time. Madam Speaker, this is not unprecedented. Congresses, in the past, have done this. During the last pandemic, during AIDS, we saw a blood- borne pathogen that was just totally sweeping hospitals and healthcare institutions all across the country, and we intervened and put a clock on OSHA to develop a blood-borne pathogen workforce standard. That is why, today, when you go to the hospitals, people are wearing gloves and using disposable needles. All that stuff that we take for granted now, that was OSHA. Actually, it was Congress who told OSHA to develop that standard. So we are in a situation here today in 2021 where, again, we are seeing something out there. I thank Ms. Foxx because she is not in denial, that is for sure. She really thoughtfully talked about what is driving some of this, but the fact is now it is time to act. I thank some of the Republican Members who came forward because it is hard right now, but they came forward and cosponsored this bill. I hope, Madam Speaker, that the shared experience of the last year that this country went through is something people will think about when they vote later today and support this legislation. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, as the designee of the chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, and pursuant to section 6 of House Resolution 303, I rise to offer amendments en bloc.