Washington D.C. (June 8, 2020)—On Wednesday, June 10, 2020, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, will hold a remote hearing to examine the health and economic burdens shouldered by essential workers and their loved ones during the coronavirus pandemic.

H.R. 6909, the Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act of 2020, was introduced by Chairwoman Maloney to create a compensation fund modeled after the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). The Pandemic Heroes Compensation Fund would be for all essential workers and their families who have suffered the effects of the coronavirus.

At a time when Americans are protesting the systemic racial inequities of this country, the coronavirus crisis continues to have a disparate impact on communities of color.  About 38% of African American workers are employed in essential industries, but only about 27% of white workers are employed in essential industries. 

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recently stated that “more than 80% of those hospitalized by COVID-19 in Georgia were African American.”