Rep. Connolly Advances Two Pro-Federal Employee Bills

NTEU is backing two bills introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) aimed at supporting federal employees during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Chaicharn Suthammanont Remembrance Act (H.R. 7340) would require federal agencies to include certain procedures and policies to ensure workers’ health and safety in their plans to reopen federal offices and publish their plans online to reopen federal offices at least 30 days in advance of their scheduled opening dates.

The Federal Workforce Health and Safety During the Pandemic Act (H.R. 7341) would provide additional flexibility and support for federal employees during the pandemic, including ensuring hazard pay for frontline federal workers, authorizing weather and safety leave for employees who need to care for a child or other family member due to COVID-19, and dependent care reimbursements for federal employees who are unable to provide care for their children or a relative who has COVID-19 due to telework or having to report to their workstations this calendar year.