Expressing support for healthcare personnel and condemning assaults on healthcare personnel as the U.S. healthcare system faces unprecedented staffing shortages and increased workplace-related stressors.

Whereas, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare personnel refers to all paid and unpaid persons serving in healthcare settings who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients or infectious materials, including body substances (e.g., blood, tissue, and specific body fluids); contaminated medical supplies, devices, and equipment; contaminated environmental surfaces; or contaminated air; Whereas these healthcare personnel may include, but are not limited to, emergency medical service personnel, nurses, nursing assistants, physicians, technicians, therapists, phlebotomists, pharmacists, students and trainees, and contractual staff not employed by the healthcare facility; Whereas the United States Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines workplace violence as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite; Whereas workplace violence ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide; Whereas acts of violence and other injuries are currently the third leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States; Whereas, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), of the 5,333 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in the United States in 2019, 761 were cases of intentional injury by another person; Whereas, in November 2020, National Nurses United surveyed 15,000 registered nurses across the U.S. and found that 20 percent reported increased workplace violence; Whereas, according to the American Nurses Association, one in four nurses are assaulted while on the job; Whereas the Joint Commission found workers in healthcare settings are four times more likely to be assaulted than workers in private industry; Whereas, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), approximately 75 percent of nearly 25,000 workplace assaults are reported annually in healthcare and social service settings; Whereas the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that healthcare workers and those who work in social assistance are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than other workers; Whereas the Joint Commission found that approximately 30 percent of nurses report incidents of violence and only 26 percent of emergency department physicians report violent incidents; Whereas the National Crime Victimization Survey showed healthcare workers have a 20-percent higher chance of being the victim of workplace violence than other workers; and Whereas the American College of Emergency Physicians reported that 70 percent of emergency physicians have reported acts of violence against them, yet approximately less than 3 percent pressed charges: Now, therefore, be it That the House of Representatives— (1) condemns workplace violence, harassment, or assault against healthcare personnel; (2) reaffirms that acts of violence, harassment, or assault against healthcare personnel will not be tolerated; (3) calls on the U.S. Department of Justice to inquire into assaults on healthcare personnel and provide adequate resources and support to ensure that justice is given to those that have faced or will face assault; (4) calls on the U.S. Department of Labor to increase workplace violence resources, specifically for healthcare personnel; (5) continues to support hospitals and healthcare workers and the work they do to ensure our health and well-being; (6) acknowledges the increased work stress and strain on mental health that healthcare personnel face; and (7) supports providing healthcare personnel with mental health information and resources.

Summary: This resolution condemns workplace violence and harassment against health care personnel.