U.S. Reps. Rick Crawford (R-AR), David Rouzer (R-NC), and Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the legislation Friday that would give priority to transportation workers when it comes to personal protective equipment and vaccines.
The Critical Infrastructure Employee Protection Act would require the Department of Transportation to categorize transportation and infrastructure workers as “essential critical infrastructure workers” throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that those workers would have priority access to vaccines, testing, and PPE so they can continue work. The congressmen said the legislation would also create a precedent requiring the DOT to reconsider the classification during any future public health crises.
“Our infrastructure workers have been essential at keeping our economy moving while also distributing vital health supplies to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. As the pandemic continues to be a threat, Congress should protect those most at risk, including essential workers. We need to ensure that these workers can resume their jobs to keep supply chains intact during such a critical time and that they never face the obstacles of this year again,” Crawford said.
Cohen said the legislation would keep infrastructure workers on the job, which would keep America moving.
“We must ensure that protections are in place for our frontline transit workers, who have continued delivering essential goods and providing essential services while putting their own lives at risk. I am pleased to re-introduce the Critical Infrastructure Employee Protection Act with Congressman Crawford. It will both help ensure these critical infrastructure workers have access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and testing as we work to end this pandemic and ensure these protections are in place in any pandemic that may occur in the future,” Cohen said.