Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8484
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-13T19:24:49Z
AI-Generated Summary
H.R. 8484: Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act
Purpose
This bill aims to protect essential health care workers during emergencies or disasters by authorizing federal grants for hazard pay (extra compensation for dangerous work) and safety measures, amending the Public Health Service Act (a key federal law governing public health).
Key Provisions
- Definitions:
- Emergency or disaster: Includes presidentially declared major disasters or emergencies (under the Stafford Act or National Emergencies Act), public health emergencies (under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act), or state/local/territorial/Tribal declarations.
- Essential health care worker: Covers direct patient care providers, medical technologists, public health workers, orderlies, janitorial staff in health settings, and other roles deemed essential by the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).
- Eligible health care worker: Essential workers whose jobs cannot be done remotely.
- Grants:
- Awarded by the HHS Secretary to public or private nonprofit health care facilities and home health agencies.
- Primary use: Hazardous duty pay of up to $13 per hour (in addition to regular wages) for hazardous work or commutes during an emergency, capped at $25,000 per worker per year.
- Other uses: Safety measures like personal protective equipment (PPE), alternative transportation, or other protections.
- Funding: Authorizes "such sums as may be necessary" (no specific dollar amount set).
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Inserts a new section (319D-2) into the Public Health Service Act, creating a dedicated grant program for hazard pay and worker protections.
- No direct equivalent existed before; builds on existing emergency authorities but adds specific compensation and safety funding for health workers.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: HHS gains authority (and responsibility) to administer grants, determine hazards, and oversee fund use; requires congressional appropriations.
- Citizens: Essential health care workers receive financial incentives and protections during crises (e.g., pandemics, natural disasters), potentially improving retention and morale; facilities gain resources to enhance safety.
- International relations: None apparent.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Essential health care workers (e.g., nurses, aides, cleaners): Direct beneficiaries of pay and safety funds.
- Health care facilities and home health agencies (nonprofits/public): Grant recipients responsible for distributing funds.
- HHS and Secretary: Administers the program.
- Taxpayers/federal budget: Funds the grants via appropriations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Relies on HHS Secretary's discretion for definitions and awards, which could lead to implementation guidelines or regulations; ties into broader disaster relief frameworks like the Stafford Act.
- Constitutional: Uses Congress's spending power (Article I) to incentivize state/local responses without mandates.
- Political: Introduced by a bipartisan group of House members (primarily Democrats); emphasizes worker support in crises, potentially influencing future emergency funding debates.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (21)
Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-23: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act — issued 2026-04-23 — PDF (5 pages)