Week Ending May 6, 2022

This week, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week
Baldwin introduces Workplace Violence Prevention Act
Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearing on slate of civil rights lawyers

This week, we celebrate Public Service Recognition Week

President Joe Biden signed a proclamation celebrating Public Service Recognition Week. In his proclamation he states:

Read more from President Lee Saunders: During Public Service Recognition Week, we must commit to honoring workers with action.

Baldwin introduces Workplace Violence Prevention Act

Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) is introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, which would direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue a standard requiring health care and social service employers to write and implement a workplace violence prevention plan to protect employees. Saunders offered a statement of support when the bill was introduced:

Health care workers were victims of 73% of all nonfatal injuries resulting from workplace violence in 2018. While it is too early to have comprehensive data from the pandemic, anecdotal evidence suggests that workplace violence is nearing crisis levels for health care and social service workers and contributing to staffing shortages.

Senate Judiciary Committee holds hearing on slate of civil rights lawyers

Last week, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to question a slate of President Biden’s judicial nominees, including Nancy Abudu, whom he has nominated to fill a vacancy on the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta. Abudu is a leading civil rights appellate lawyer and her work on voting rights, workers’ rights, disability rights and women’s rights shows a strong commitment to the rule of law. If confirmed, Abudu will be the first person of color from Georgia and the first Black woman to sit on the 11th Circuit. Her groundbreaking confirmation would matter greatly in a circuit comprising of states where 45% of the population is minority.