house Resolution No.299
Reps. Pohutsky, Love, Coleman, Stone, Brenda Carter and Bolden offered the following resolution:
Whereas, Nursing home residents tend to be older adults with underlying chronic medical conditions, which makes them particularly vulnerable to the serious complications of COVID-19. There have been more than 240,000 cases of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities, and deaths in long-term care facilities have surpassed 50,000 people, making up a shocking 40 to 45 percent of all deaths from COVID-19 across the country; and
Whereas, Nursing homes must implement polices and procedures and have adequate resources to protect residents and workers from COVID-19. Ensuring proper staffing and access to testing and personal protective equipment are essential to prevent cross-contamination. Some nursing home workers lack access to paid sick leave, which increases the risk that workers continue to work while sick and spread the virus to residents and coworkers; and
Whereas, Enacting legislation to protect nursing home residents and workers, such as the Quality Care for Nursing Home Residents and Workers During COVID-19 Act of 2020 (H.R. 6698 and S. 3644), would ensure that nursing facilities maintain their quality of care, worker safety, and transparency during the COVID-19 public health emergency. This legislation would require Medicare skilled nursing facilities and Medicaid nursing facilities to perform COVID-19 testing for residents and employees, provide employees with at least two weeks of paid sick leave, and require daily reporting of COVID-19 cases and deaths. Additionally, funding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid would allow states to establish teams to quickly respond to the emergence of new COVID-19 cases in nursing homes; and
Whereas, Given the high death tolls in nursing homes across the United States, we need urgent action to protect our most vulnerable citizens from COVID-19 and support the selfless workers who care for them; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Congress of the United States to enact legislation that ensures the safety of nursing home residents and staff during the COVID-19 Pandemic; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.