July 02, 2020

Duckworth Speaks with SEIU Healthcare Leaders About COVID-19 Impact at VA Facilities

 

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) spoke with Greg Kelley, President of SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Kansas, and other SEIU Healthcare leaders today about the COVID-19 response at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Administration Hospital and Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Medical Center and the important work staff has done throughout the pandemic. The group discussed SEIU Healthcare’s main priorities, which include obtaining more personal protective equipment (PPE) and providing hazard pay and accommodations for high-risk staff at the Chicago-area VA hospital and medical center.

“I had a productive conversation with SEIU Healthcare leaders today about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on VA hospitals and medical centers and the need for more accommodations for our frontline workers in these VA facilities,” said Duckworth. “I will continue advocating for the health and safety of healthcare workers and working with leaders to make sure we are continuing to do all that we can to support Illinoisans who have been impacted by this pandemic.”

Since the COVID-19 public health crisis began, Senator Duckworth has led with a wide range of actions to support middle-class working Americans and help our nation better respond to the pandemic, including supporting the Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which makes important progress to help Americans address and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, and supported the supplemental funding bill to provide more money to small businesses, hospitals and healthcare workers. Last month, Duckworth also helped introduce the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act, which would create a victim compensation fund for essential frontline workers injured or impacted by COVID-19. For more information about resources available to Illinoisans and what the Senator has done throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

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