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John,

Have you heard about the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act?

This legislation can make a real difference in the lives of workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic. It would provide federal workers with many of the enhanced protections and benefits that we have been championing, Now is the time for lawmakers to make this bill a reality!

Call your representative TODAY at 1-877-633-9308 and tell them to please support inclusion of the federal employee protections included in the HEROES Act in the next COVID-19 bill!

Mobilizing support for this legislation will generate needed pressure on congressional leaders to enact the priorities that mean the most to front-line workers.

AFGE priorities included in the legislation are:

1. Premium Pay

The bill would provide premium pay for employees whose duties, work setting and interaction with the public place them in danger of contracting COVID-19, and make the pay retroactive to January 27, 2020 when the national emergency went into effect.

2. Presumption of Worksite Illness

Employees who must interact with the public, who have been quarantined, or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 during the performance of their duties will be given a presumption that they contracted the virus at work. This will help expedite approval of workers’ compensation claims.

3. Telework

Requires agency leaders to allow telework for all eligible federal employees during the coronavirus pandemic. Agencies would be required to expand telework by creating incentives to increase its use and disincentives to reducing it.

4. Universal Testing

The bill allocates $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing, and isolation measures, which will ensure that every American can access free coronavirus treatment.

5. Additional Personal Protective Equipment

The bill amplifies production and distribution of personal protective equipment and other supplies and requires the administration to see input from labor organizations and other stakeholders.

6. Paid Leave Clarifications

The bill ensures that federal employees will not be excluded from the paid leave provisions previously passed by Congress and clarifies that Transportation Security Officers and health-care workers at the Department of Veterans Affairs are entitled to the additional two weeks of paid sick leave.

7. OSHA Emergency Standard

The bill requires the Labor Department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a temporary standard to protect front-line employees from exposure to COVID-19.

Call your representative TODAY at 1-877-633-9308 and tell them to please support inclusion of the federal employee protections included in the HEROES Act in the next COVID-19 bill!


Thank you for all you do!

In Solidarity,

AFGE

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