After Trump's Refusal to Protect Workers During Pandemic, Duckworth & Durbin Applaud President Biden's Move to Create Emergency OSHA Standard to Keep Workers Safe from COVID-19

Press Release

U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today lauded President Biden's decision to order the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to take steps toward implementing an Emergency Temporary Standard to protect workers across America from contracting COVID-19. The Biden Administration move comes on the first full day of President Biden's term after Donald Trump refused or ignored several requests from Duckworth, Durbin and their colleagues in the last year for similar action. Duckworth also introduced the COVID-19 Every Worker Protection Act with Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), which Senator Durbin cosponsored, last year to require OSHA to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard that establishes a legal obligation for all workplaces to implement comprehensive infectious disease exposure control plans to keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"Though it seems Donald Trump and Republicans may have disagreed as they refused to lift a finger to help, American workers deserve every protection available to defend themselves from COVID-19," Duckworth said. "I'm pleased that President Biden has taken this important action to help protect workers on his first full day in office, and I look forward to closely working with his Administration in the days and weeks ahead as we work to defeat this pandemic and build back a better economy that works for every American."

"Protecting the health and safety of American workers during the pandemic is critically important. Today's executive order is a long overdue step that will help keep workers safe," Durbin said. "This kind of action has been sorely needed. I'm thankful President Biden wasted no time in getting this done."

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