[1]National Nurses United



Right now, nurses around the country are virtually meeting with senators
to lobby for protection for ourselves and our fellow health care workers.

After working mentally and emotionally draining shifts, often lasting
12-plus hours, we are STILL having to spend time off the clock demanding
things we should already have. We’re asking you to have our backs and call
on Congress to use their power to protect all health care workers.

In order to provide the protections we need, Congress must:

 1. Mandate the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration
(OSHA) to enact an emergency temporary infectious diseases standard.
 2. Mandate the president to fully utilize the Defense Production Act to
direct U.S. manufacturers to massively scale up production of personal
protective equipment (PPE).

[ [link removed] ]We are asking you to call your senators today so we can pressure each
and every one of them to follow through and protect nurses.

To call your senators, use our COVID-19 national hotline:
→ Dial (202) 335-6015 ←
You can use this sample script when you call (be sure to mention if you
are a nurse or health care worker!):

“Hi, my name is ______ and I’m a constituent of yours
from Washington. I’m calling to ask you to stand with nurses by
mandating that OSHA enact an emergency temporary infectious diseases
standard and mandating that President Trump fully utilize the Defense
Production Act. Nurses across the country are reporting that they are
still not receiving the personal protective equipment (PPE) they need to
safely care for COVID-19 patients. We need you to take action NOW to get
nurses the PPE they need to take care of their patients and keep us all
safe. If nurses become infected, they won’t be there when you and your
loved ones need them. Thank you.”

[ [link removed] ]Tell us how it went »

Our leaders in Washington have shown that they will take shortcuts in the
midst of the pandemic, leaving nurses without the protective equipment we
need nationwide. We are tired of the excuses, the waiting, and the false
hope. Calling on our senators to act is how we are going to finally get
the PPE from this administration that nurses so desperately need.

Last week, we released a video of our virtual candlelight vigil we held
with nurses across the country. We came together to honor the lives lost
and call attention to the grave danger nurses are put in every day when
they’re asked to treat patients without necessary protection. Now, we need
Congress to do their jobs and protect nurses so we don’t have to mourn any
more nurse deaths.

Bonnie Castillo, registered nurse and NNU executive director, ended the
vigil by quoting union activist Mother Jones, who said, “Pray for the dead
and fight like hell for the living.” We must all do our part and fight
like hell for every nurse on the front lines.

[ [link removed] ]Take a moment to call your senators today so we can pressure each and
every one of them to mandate OSHA enact an emergency temporary infectious
diseases standard and force the president to fully utilize the Defense
Production Act.

In solidarity,

National Nurses United



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