Sen. Casey Must Support Nonpartisan COVID-19 Response

We are approaching 1 year of the existence of COVID-19 and the senate has stalled once again, leaving early for Thanksgiving when we are experiencing the highest rates of positive cases to date. Pandemic management should not be a partisan issue, and yet here we are with critical aid expiring on December 31st with no clear replacement in the works.

Senator Bob Casey Jr. has made it clear he supports critical COVID legislation and response, including the implementation of community health worker models in the pandemic response as outlined in his Dear Colleague Letter to HHS Secretary Alex Azar. However, we have yet to see Senator Casey use his position on the HELP Committee or in the senate in general to work on nonpartisan legislation that will successfully bring relief to the millions of Americans devastated by the pandemic. There will not be an opportunity to integrate community health workers into the COVID response if there is no funding to build the infrastructure for a successful pandemic control, nor protection for those who are financially struggling and still following public health guidelines.

The partisan pride within Congress is costing Americans their lives and livelihoods, something both Democrats and Republicans must acknowledge and swallow.

I am calling on Senator Casey to hold himself and his fellow Senators accountable, to reach across the aisle, and to publicly fight for pandemic prevention and response legislation that will protect Americans and end the continued growth and devastation of this pandemic.

Catherine Wenger
Royersford

The author is a member of PIH Engage, a grassroots movement pushing for the right to health.