Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-978
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11]
Introduced: 2021-02-11
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Congressional oversight

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Employee leave

Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management

Government information and archives

Government studies and investigations

Health technology, devices, supplies

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Medical tests and diagnostic methods

Public contracts and procurement

Worker safety and health
Latest action: action_date: 2021-09-29
text: UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST - Mr. DeSaulnier asked unanimous consent that the ordering of the yeas and nays on the motion that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill H.R. 978 be vacated, to the end that the motion be considered as withdrawn. Agreed to without objection.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act</b> <b>of 2021</b></p> <p>This bill requires federal agencies to develop and disclose safety plans that contain certain information for on-site employees and contractors during the public health emergency relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).</p> <p>Specifically, the bill requires each agency to post a safety plan on its website that includes descriptions of (1) the personal protective equipment that the agency will provide to its on-site employees and contractors; (2) protections for employees whose work requires them to travel off-site; (3) testing, contact-tracing, and vaccination protocols; and (4) protocols that ensure the continuity of operations in the event it is necessary to reverse on-site requirements. </p> <p>Each agency's Office of the Inspector General must report on whether the agency has published and implemented its safety plan. </p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 978 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 11, 2021 Mr. Connolly (for himself, Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney of New York , Ms. Speier , Mr. Sarbanes , Mr. Raskin , Ms. Norton , and Mr. Lynch ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform A BILL To require the head of each agency to establish a safety plan relating to COVID–19 for any worksite at which employees or contractors are required to be physically present during the COVID–19 pandemic, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Chai Suthammanont Remembrance Act of 2021 . 2. Worksite safety for Federal employees and contractors (a) Issuance of policies and procedures by agencies Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the head of each agency, in consultation with the Chief Human Capital Officer of the agency and the Assistant Director of Administration of the agency (or any individual holding an equivalent position) shall— (1) establish, and publish on the website of that agency, a safety plan containing procedures and policies for— (A) covered worksites; and (B) being present at a covered worksite; and (2) communicate such plan to each employee of the agency and contractor of the agency (and any subcontractor thereof at any tier) in such a manner as to ensure that each such employee and contractor acknowledges receipt and understanding of the plan. (b) Plan The safety plan required under subsection (a) shall, at a minimum, include the following: (1) A description of the efforts of the agency with respect to mitigating the spread of COVID–19 at covered worksites, including the following: (A) A description of any personal protective equipment that is being or will be provided by the agency to any employee of the agency and contractor of the agency (and any subcontractor thereof at any tier) physically present at a covered worksite. (B) A description of any procedures established by the agency for— (i) testing employees of the agency and contractors of the agency (and any subcontractor thereof at any tier) required to be present at a covered worksite; (ii) contact-tracing at covered worksites, including procedures by which such employees and contractors (and any subcontractor thereof at any tier) will be notified of a potential exposure to an individual who is diagnosed with COVID–19; and (iii) administering the COVID–19 vaccine to employees of the agency. (2) Guidance on— (A) any cleaning protocols to be implemented at covered worksites; (B) occupancy limits for covered worksites; and (C) the use of appropriate face coverings by employees of the agency and contractors of the agency (and any subcontractor thereof at any tier) while physically present at a covered worksite. (3) A description of the actions the agency is or will be taking to protect from exposure to COVID–19 employees of the agency who conduct activities in an official capacity while not physically present at a covered worksite, including employees of the agency— (A) who are required to travel in an official capacity; or (B) perform audits or inspections. (4) A description of any requirements that members of the public are required to meet in order to enter a facility in which covered worksites are located. (5) A description of any alternative option to being physically present at a covered worksite that are available for employees who— (A) have a high risk of contracting COVID–19 (as determined by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention); or (B) live in a household with individuals that have a high risk of contracting COVID–19 (as determined by the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). (6) A description of any rule or protocol regarding whether employees of the agency required to be physically present at covered worksites are— (A) required to be fully vaccinated before being present at covered worksites; or (B) allowed to take leave— (i) to get each dose of the vaccine; or (ii) upon experiencing severe side-effects as a result of receiving any dose of such vaccine. (7) Protocols that ensure the continuity of operations, including a plan to reverse any requirement for an employee or contractor (or subcontractor thereof at any tier) to be present at a facility in which covered worksites are located if there is a surge in COVID–19 cases in the geographic area of such facility. (8) The hotline website and hotline telephone number of the Inspector General of the agency for employees of the agency and contractors of the agency (and any subcontractor thereof at any tier) to report to the Inspector General any instance in which the agency is not implementing the plan required by this section. (c) Delayed applicability for certain worksites For any worksite that the head of the agency has temporarily closed due to COVID–19, the requirements of subsection (a) shall be carried out not later than 30 days before any employee of the agency or contractor of any agency (or any subcontractor thereof at any tier) is required to be physically present at such worksite. (d) Inspectors general reports Not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Inspector General of each agency shall submit to the Committee on Oversight and Reform of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate a report on whether that agency— (1) has published and communicated the public safety plan required by subsection (a), in accordance with such subsection; and (2) implemented such plan. (e) Application Nothing in this Act shall be construed to alter or otherwise limit the rights and obligations afforded under chapter 71 of title 5, United States Code. (f) Definitions In this section: (1) Agency The term agency has the meaning given that term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code. (2) Covered period The term covered period means the period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act and ending on the date on which the public health emergency declared by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under section 319 of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247 ) as a result of the COVID–19, or any renewal thereof, terminates. (3) Covered worksite The term covered worksite means a worksite at which an employee of the agency or a contractor of the agency (or subcontractor thereof at any tier) is required to be present during the covered period. (4) Worksite The term worksite means— (A) in the case of an employee of the agency, the location of the employee's position of record where the employee regularly performs his or her duties, but does not include any location where the employee teleworks (as that term is defined in section 6501 of title 5, United States Code); and (B) in the case of a contractor of the agency (or subcontractor thereof at any tier), the location in a facility of the agency where the contractor or subcontractor performs his or her duties under a contract with the agency, or a subcontract thereof at any tier, as applicable.