Congresswoman Tenney Pushes for Immediate Action on Bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-22), the lead sponsor of HR 3733, the Essential Caregivers Act, is urging the leaders of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee to move forward with reviewing and marking up this important bill in the House. These two committees have jurisdiction over nursing home care and other related policies. 

Tenney’s Essential Caregivers Act would set a national standard to protect the rights of residents in long-term care facilities by allowing them to designate up to two essential caregivers who would be allowed to continue providing support to their loved ones in the event of a public health emergency. The bipartisan bill, which maintains stringent safety standards and protocols, seeks to ensure that the isolation and lack of care that long-term care residents were subjected to during the COVID-19 pandemic never happens again. 

Tenney sent letters to the Democratic Chairs and Republican Leaders of the House Ways and Means and House Energy and Commerce Committees, seeking a review and committee markup of the Essential Caregivers Act. 

“New York residents in long-term care facilities had to wait months to see their family members and essential caregivers. Some never even had the opportunity to say goodbye before they passed on. Nursing and long-term care residents have rights, and we must ensure that they are never again violated during this or any future public health emergency.  We must pass the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act today to provide consistency and support to long-term care residents,” said Tenney.

In part Tenney writes, “We must ensure that during this or any future public health emergency, individuals are surrounded by the love and support of those who care for them. This bill strengthens the law to protect resident rights more effectively, while putting into place stringent protocols that will promote the safety of staff, residents, and public health. Therefore, I urge you to consider this legislation at a committee markup at the earliest opportunity.”

Text of Tenney’s letter to the House Ways and Means Committee leadership can be read here. 

Text of Tenney’s letter to the House Energy and Commerce Committee leadership can be read here.

Tenney’s bill has now reached 21 bipartisan cosponsors, which includes original co-lead, Reps. John B. Larson (CT-01), as well as Representatives Elise Stefanik (NY-21), John Rutherford (FL-04), Yvette Herrell (NM-02), Madison Cawthorn (NC-11), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Ted Budd (NC-13), Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Lee Zeldin (NY-01), John Katko (NY-24), Chris Jacobs (NY-27), Lance Gooden (TX-05), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Joe Courtney (CT-02), Rodney Davis (IL-13), Ken Calvert (CA-42), Darin LaHood (IL-18), Andrew Garbarino (NY-02), Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Burgess Owens (UT-04). 

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