CFC Co-Chair Fights To Protect Millennials, Hospitality Industry Workers From COVID-19

HR 7634, the Isolate Covid-19 Act, was introduced in the House of Representatives on July 16, 2020. The bill, which is active and was referred to the Energy and Commerce Committee, is authored by Congressional Future Caucus (CFC) co-chair Rep. Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH-16).

The Isolate Covid-19 Act seeks to assist the most vulnerable communities in reducing their spread of the virus via voluntary isolation. The bill would reduce the spread of COVID-19 through payments to states to lease hotels to temporarily house and isolate eligible individuals. States would submit applications to the Department of Health & Human Services. The Secretary of Health & Human Services would be required to take into consideration the number of active cases of individuals infected with COVID-19 in the applying state relative to the overall population when reviewing applications. 

The bill aims to aid millennials who account for 50 percent of the workforce and are more likely to live at home with guardians, in multi-person group homes, and in overcrowded and densely populated areas subject to higher COVID-19 transmission rates. Millennials make up nearly two-thirds of restaurant workers and nearly half of all grocery store employees according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The Isolate COVID-19 act intends to assist the ailing hotel industry by giving hotel workers who want the chance to return to work to do so safely. The bill makes clear that each contract between the State and hotel will be on a voluntary basis and no hotel will be required by the State to participate in the program. The bill also provides liability protection for the hotel and members of the hotel staff. The bill affords greater flexibility and authority to states in fighting COVID-19, by establishing clear guidelines for eligibility requirements for hotel and individual participants. 

The bill authorizes $1 billion through the end of 2021 or the Public Health Emergency. The State will cover at least 40 percent of the cost for personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies needed by individuals isolating in the hotel. The bill would require the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human, at the conclusion of the program, to review and submit a report on the results of the program to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means. 

The bipartisan bill demonstrates the leadership of millennial lawmakers in the COVID-19 era. CFC co-chair Rep. Gonzalez stated in a press release that “Opening up hotels for voluntary isolation will help protect our families who need it the most, especially low-income Americans, wage workers, and minorities who are unable to effectively self-isolate in their homes…we need every tool at our disposal to help suppress the spread of the virus, including improving our ability to voluntarily isolate infected individuals.”