I 
117TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 900 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a program of death 
and hospitalization benefits for essential workers who die as a result 
of COVID–19 or related complications, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 5, 2021 
Ms. SPEIER (for herself, Mr. NEGUSE, Ms. SCANLON, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, 
Ms. NORTON, Mr. VELA, Mr. BLUMENAUER, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. CARSON, 
Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia, Mrs. HAYES, Mr. COHEN, Ms. PRESSLEY, Ms. 
LEE of California, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN, Mr. 
GOMEZ, Ms. NEWMAN, Mr. GRIJALVA, and Mr. KHANNA) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Com-
merce, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, for a pe-
riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con-
sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com-
mittee concerned 
A BILL 
To amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize a 
program of death and hospitalization benefits for essen-
tial workers who die as a result of COVID–19 or related 
complications, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Essential Worker Pan-
demic Compensation Act of 2021’’. 
SEC. 2. PANDEMIC COMPENSATION PROGRAM. 
Title II of the Public Health Service Act (43 U.S.C. 
202 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following 
new part: 
‘‘PART E—PANDEMIC COMPENSATION PROGRAM 
‘‘SEC. 275. DEATH AND HOSPITALIZATION BENEFITS FOR 
ESSENTIAL WORKERS. 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall carry out a 
compensation program under which the Secretary pays— 
‘‘(1) death benefits in accordance with sub-
section (b) to the survivor or survivors in the same 
manner as death benefits are paid pursuant to the 
Public Safety Officers’ Benefits Program under sub-
part 1 of part L of title I of the Omnibus Crime 
Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 of each essen-
tial worker who dies as a result of COVID–19 or re-
lated complications; and 
‘‘(2) a hospitalization benefit in accordance with 
subsection (c) to each essential worker who is hos-
pitalized, and does not die, as a result of COVID– 
19 or related complications. 
‘‘(b) DEATH BENEFITS.— 
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‘‘(1) BASE AMOUNT.—The base amount of the 
death benefits paid with respect to an essential 
worker under subsection (a)(1) in a fiscal year shall 
be equal to the amount of the comparable benefit 
calculated under the Public Safety Officers’ Benefits 
Program under subpart 1 of part L of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 in such fiscal year, without regard to any re-
duction attributable to a limitation on appropria-
tions. 
‘‘(2) EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE TO WORKER’S 
CHILDREN AND SPOUSE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to the 
base amount under paragraph (1), subject to 
subparagraphs (C) and (D), the death benefits 
paid with respect to an essential worker under 
subsection (a)(1) shall include payment of edu-
cational assistance— 
‘‘(i) to each child of the worker who, 
on or after the date of the worker’s death, 
is enrolled full-time or part-time at an in-
stitution of higher education; and 
‘‘(ii) to the spouse of the worker who, 
on or after the date of the worker’s death, 
is so enrolled. 
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‘‘(B) APPLICABLE PROVISIONS.—The pro-
visions of subpart 2 of part L of title I of the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 
1968 shall apply with respect to educational as-
sistance provided by the Secretary to the child, 
children, or spouse of an essential worker under 
this paragraph to the same extent and in the 
same manner as such provisions apply with re-
spect to educational assistance provided by the 
Attorney General to the child, children, or 
spouse of an eligible public safety worker. 
‘‘(c) HOSPITALIZATION BENEFIT.—The amount of 
the hospitalization benefit program paid with respect to 
an essential worker under subsection (a)(2) shall be half 
the base amount of the death benefit payable as described 
in subsection (b)(1). 
‘‘(d) TREATMENT OF BENEFITS.— 
‘‘(1) EXCLUSION
FROM
GROSS
INCOME.—For 
purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 
gross income shall not include a payment under sub-
section (a). 
‘‘(2) NO
REDUCTION
BECAUSE
OF
PAYMENT 
FROM OTHER SOURCE.—The Secretary may not re-
duce a payment under subsection (a) on the basis of 
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any amount paid, or obligated to be paid, pursuant 
to law or contract, from another source. 
‘‘(e) ADMINISTRATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting 
through a Special Master appointed by the Sec-
retary, shall— 
‘‘(A) administer the compensation program 
under this section; 
‘‘(B) promulgate all procedural and sub-
stantive rules (which may be issued by regula-
tion) for the administration of this section; and 
‘‘(C) employ and supervise hearing officers 
and other administrative personnel to perform 
the duties of the Special Master under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(2) DETERMINATION
OF
ELIGIBILITY
FOR 
COMPENSATION.— 
‘‘(A) FILING OF CLAIM.—A claimant may 
file a claim for compensation under this section 
with the Special Master. The claim— 
‘‘(i) shall be on the form developed 
under subparagraph (B); and 
‘‘(ii) shall state the factual basis for 
eligibility 
for 
compensation 
and 
the 
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amount of compensation sought, including 
by demonstrating— 
‘‘(I) employment as an essential 
worker; 
‘‘(II) death or hospitalization as 
described in subsection (a); and 
‘‘(III) the deceased or hospital-
ized essential worker became infected 
with SARS–CoV–2 during the period 
of employment as an essential worker. 
‘‘(B) CLAIM FORM.—The Special Master 
shall develop a claim form that claimants shall 
use when submitting claims under subpara-
graph (A). The Special Master shall ensure that 
such form can be filed electronically, if deter-
mined to be practicable. 
‘‘(C) DEADLINE.—No claim for compensa-
tion under this section may be filed after July 
1, 2022. 
‘‘(3) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary may ap-
point the Special Master without regard to the provi-
sions of title 5, United States Code, governing ap-
pointments in the competitive service. Any such em-
ployee shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary. 
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