President Joe Biden today took executive action directing the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) to begin consideration of issuing an emergency temporary standard to protect workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, President Biden issued an executive order taking the first steps toward invoking the Defense Production Act (DPA) to ensure that the nation has access to the personal protective equipment needed during the pandemic. In response, the BlueGreen Alliance released the following statement from Executive Director Jason Walsh:

“Since the onset of this pandemic, frontline workers—healthcare workers, utility workers, meatpackers, food service workers, teachers, and more—have been risking their lives with no support from the federal government. Today’s executive actions represent the first long-awaited steps toward protecting our workers during this crisis. We applaud the Biden administration for doing what’s right and prioritizing the health and safety of working Americans.”