Bacon sponsors bipartisan legislation to bolster nationwide biopreparedness

Newly introduced bipartisan legislation proposed by U.S. Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) would expand the list of federally approved medical countermeasures that could be used to protect first responders and healthcare professionals during a nationwide health emergency.

Rep. Bacon on Nov. 5 sponsored the Health Care Workforce Protection Act of 2019, H.R. 4982, with cosponsor U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI), which would amend the Public Health Service (PHS) Act to treat certain respiratory protective devices as covered countermeasures that would receive targeted liability protections for pandemic and epidemic products, according to the congressional record bill summary.

“I am proud to introduce legislation that will ensure respiratory protection devices are available in the instance of a national or public health emergency,” Rep. Bacon said.

Specifically, H.R. 4982 would include coverage of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified respiratory protective devices, which currently are not among the approved items eligible for coverage under the PHS Act.

The only items eligible for such coverage are those approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges the use of NIOSH-certified respirators in virtually every public health emergency with an airborne hazard to keep emergency workers safe.

Additionally, H.R. 4982 would ensure that respirator manufacturers and distributors are not penalized for providing such devices in the event of a public health emergency and that the devices are available when needed, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Bacon’s office.

“In the case of a serious medical epidemic or disease outbreak, certified respirators and medical equipment must be made available and accessible to medical professionals and first responders to protect them from airborne threats,” said Rep. Bacon.