RALLY IN WASHINGTON TO SUPPORT TENNEY'S ESSENTIAL CAREGIVERS ACT

WASHINGTON – A Utica woman stood by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney in Washington D.C. Wednesday morning to rally support for the Essential Caregivers Act of 2021.

Tenney introduced the bill in the House back in March.

The bill would allow nursing home residents to have family members designated as caregivers that can visit and care for them, even during a public health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic.

Karla Abraham-Conley helped write the Essential Caregivers Act, to advocate for those who were kept away from loved ones in nursing homes during the pandemic.

Abraham-Conley’s mother died in the pandemic, after she being isolated at a nursing home for several months.

"Essential caregivers are not just visitors. They are as the name implies, caregivers,” she said, outside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. “They help with the activities of daily living and provide emotional support and companionship.

The bill has been in committee in the House since June 4. The next steps would be for the House and Senate to vote on the bill before heading to the president to become law.