Senator Murray: “After all they have done for our communities, we owe it to our health care workers to listen to their experiences, and respond to the challenges they are dealing with.”
***WATCH SENATOR MURRAY’S REMARKS HERE***
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, highlighted how critical it is to listen to health care workers and address the steep challenges they continue to face during the pandemic at a HELP Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety hearing chaired by Senator Hickenlooper (D-CO).
“After all they have done for our communities, we owe it to our health care workers, and everyone on the frontlines of this pandemic, to listen to their experiences, and respond to the challenges they are dealing with,” said Senator Murray at the hearing.
At the hearing, Senator Murray highlighted how many health care workers are dealing with long hours, in overcrowded health care facilities, fighting a deadly new virus, often while earning unacceptably low pay. She also noted the devastating toll that the pandemic has had on the health care workforce, with many killed by the virus, and many more dealing with trauma, depression, and burnout.
Senator Murray noted that the American Rescue Plan included historic investments to further support our health workforce, such as robust resources for the Nurse Corps program, but it’s clear that more work is needed. Specifically, Senator Murray made clear that health care workers deserve fair wages, a voice in decisions about how we train, recruit, and retain health care workers, safe workplaces, paid leave, mental health care, and the ability to choose to join a union and collectively bargain.
“This pandemic has made it clearer than ever how important it is that our health care workers are paid what they deserve, have a voice in decisions about how we should recruit, train, and retain health care workers, have safe workplaces which are adequately stocked and staffed, and are protected from infectious diseases and workplace violence. We also need to make sure all workers have paid leave for when they need to care for themselves and their own families, can get mental health care when they need it, and can choose to join a union and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions,” continued Senator Murray.
Senator Murray’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, are below:
“Thank you, Senator Hickenlooper, for organizing this hearing to discuss how we can support our health care workforce.
“And thank you to our witnesses for offering their insight on this important topic.
“The discussion about how we can diversify our health care workforce is so important to improving health care for communities of color, and increasing health equity.
“I’m glad to be able to join today and highlight the challenges I’ve been hearing about from health care workers in particular—something I know is a big priority for all of us.
“I’ve heard from so many nurses, doctors, and other health care workers back in Washington state about how hard this pandemic has been—and I know there are similar stories all across the country.
“Health care workers have handled long hours, in overcrowded facilities, fighting a deadly new virus, often while receiving low pay.
“They have worried about whether they would have the equipment they needed, whether they are safe at work or would get sick, or bring a deadly virus home to their families, and whether they could make ends meet on the wages they were paid—let alone if they had to stay home to care for themselves or their loved ones.
“They’ve had to deal patiently and compassionately with patients and family members who may have been afraid they may never see their loved ones again, frustrated by steps required to keep everyone safe, or even skeptical about the threat of this virus due to misinformation, and angry with health care professionals trying to help.
“They have seen the pain of this pandemic up close, and personal, and it’s taken a real toll.
“Far too many health care workers have been killed by this virus.
“And many more are dealing with trauma, mental health challenges, and burnout in its wake.
“That’s why I pushed for historic investments in the American Rescue Plan to further support our health workforce, including robust funding for workplace safety and health protections from COVID-19, as well as address some of the personal challenges facing these workers.
“This pandemic has made it clearer than ever how important it is that our health care workers are paid what they deserve, have a voice in decisions about how we should recruit, train, and retain health care workers, have safe workplaces which are adequately stocked and staffed, and are protected from infectious diseases and workplace violence.
“We also need to make sure all workers have paid leave for when they need to care for themselves and their own families, can get mental health care when they need it, and can choose to join a union and collectively bargain for better wages and working conditions.
“After all they have done for our communities, we owe it to our health care workers, and everyone on the frontlines of this pandemic, to listen to their experiences, and respond to the challenges they are dealing with.
“As we work to improve recruiting, retaining, and training for health care workers, one critical aspect of this is ensuring we improve their working conditions.
“So I’m glad we are discussing some of the ways we can support our health care workforce today.
“And I’m committed to making sure we include health care workers in this important conversation as it continues.
“And before I finish, I’d like to note I will have letters I plan to submit for the record and ask consent to do so.
“Thank you.”
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