Protecting Essential Workers Act

To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to maintain an internet clearinghouse of information on suppliers of personal protective equipment needed to prevent the spread of COVID–19 or any other pathogen triggering a public health emergency declaration, including information on the quality and availability of such equipment, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Essential Workers Act 2. National COVID–19 personal protective equipment clearinghouse (a) In general Beginning not later than 2 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall establish and maintain an internet clearinghouse of information on suppliers of personal protective equipment needed to prevent the spread of COVID–19 or any other pathogen triggering a public health emergency declaration. (b) Requirements Subject to subsection (c), the internet clearinghouse established under subsection (a) shall— (1) identify available personal protective equipment by— (A) conducting outbound sourcing to identify manufacturers and distributers of personal protective equipment; (B) soliciting information from manufacturers and distributers of available personal protective equipment; (C) verifying manufacturer and distributer regulatory status; (D) verifying supporting documentation of supplier registration, factory, and product certifications; (E) collecting information on product pricing, minimum order quantities, lead time, supply resilience, and availability; and (F) verifying product prices to ensure that no price violates antiprice gouging laws; (2) provide transparent information about personal protective equipment availability, dissemination, and procurement opportunities by making available information collected pursuant to paragraph (1); and (3) be established in a manner that allows the information collected to be available to the public and government, including— (A) health care providers; (B) workers deemed essential by public officials during the COVID–19 pandemic and any subsequent pandemics triggering public health emergency declarations; (C) any State, local, or Tribal government; and (D) local emergency operations centers and health departments. (c) Inclusion of suppliers only on voluntary basis The Secretary may include in the internet clearinghouse established under subsection (a) information with respect to a supplier (including any manufacturer or distributor) only if the supplier agrees to be referenced in the clearinghouse, in which case the supplier shall agree to provide to the Secretary the information listed in subsection (b)(1). (d) Definitions In this section: (1) The term personal protective equipment (A) means equipment designated to protect individuals from the spread of infection or illness, as determined by the Secretary; and (B) includes any such disinfecting wipes, helmets, gloves, face shields, hand sanitizer, goggles, facemasks, protective clothing, and respirators. (2) The term State (3) The term Tribal (A) Indian Tribes that— (i) are operating 1 or more health facilities pursuant to an agreement under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( 25 U.S.C. 5301 (ii) receive services from a facility operated by the Indian Health Services; and (B) Tribal organizations (as the term tribal organization 25 U.S.C. 5304 25 U.S.C. 1603 (e) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this section, to be derived exclusively from unobligated amounts in the Public Health and Social Emergency Fund.

Summary: Protecting Essential Workers Act This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to establish within two months a publicly accessible clearinghouse of information about personal protective equipment used to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019) or other pathogens that trigger public health emergency declarations. The clearinghouse must identify sources of available equipment, verify product prices, and provide other information to facilitate the procurement of these products. Participation in this clearinghouse by suppliers of personal protective equipment must be voluntary.