Congressman Courtney Renews Call for Workplace Violence Prevention Legislation

Strategic Insights -

Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-02) has continued to emphasize the need for stronger protections for healthcare and social service workers in the face of rising rates of on-the-job violence. This push comes after a recent tragic shooting of a home healthcare worker in Spokane, Washington. Rep. Courtney is urging the Senate to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, a bipartisan bill that has already been passed by the House and aims to ensure the safety of nurses, doctors, emergency responders, and social workers while they work.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R. 1195/S. 4182) has already been passed by the House of Representatives, first in 2019 and again in the 117th Congress, with increasing bipartisan support.
  • The bill aims to address the growing crisis of on-the-job violence facing America's healthcare workers, who are at risk of physical assault and worse while at work.
  • Congressman Courtney has been advocating for this legislation due to his personal connection to the issue as a husband of a nurse practitioner and working alongside nurses in Connecticut since coming to Congress.
  • The bill has been introduced to the Senate on May 12 in honor of National Nurses Week and is still awaiting a vote.

Statistics:

  • The bill has been passed by the House twice, first in 2019 and again in the 117th Congress.
  • The number of bipartisan votes in support of the bill increased in the 117th Congress compared to the first time it was passed in 2019.
  • Since 2020, the rate of on-the-job violence against healthcare workers has been increasing nationwide.
  • The number of reported cases of on-the-job violence against healthcare workers in the United States has grown significantly over the past few years.

Sources:

  • [H.R. 1195/S. 4182 - The Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act]
  • [Press Release from the Office of Congressman Joe Courtney]
  • [News article about the shooting of Douglas Brant, a home health care worker in Spokane, Washington]