Cunningham Introduces the Pandemic Hazard Pay Expansion Act

Legislation would provide hazard pay for medical professionals in the uniformed service involved in COVID-19 response

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Joe Cunningham (SC-01) today introduced the Pandemic Hazard Pay Expansion Act, critical legislation that would expand hazard duty pay to uniformed servicemembers whose duties put them at risk of exposure to a pandemic disease in a Public Health Emergency, including COVID-19 response. Currently, hazard pay is available to servicemembers if the service secretary determines their duty is inherently dangerous and risks physical injury. Cunningham’s bill would expand hazard pay to servicemembers whose duties involve frequent exposure to a cause of a public health emergency.

“Military medical professionals, including doctors, nurses, and other health care workers on the front lines of this crisis are risking their lives to keep our communities safe,” said Rep. Joe Cunningham. “We offer hazard pay to servicemembers who are doing dangerous work and putting their lives in harm’s way. The brave military medical professionals who are serving on the front lines in the war against this public health crisis deserve the same sort of compensation.”

The Defense Department (DoD) is rapidly ramping up its efforts to respond to assist federal, state, and local governments in their efforts. Today, the DoD announced it will expand its medical support to include COVID-19 positive patients at certain DoD-supported locations across the country. This assistance will include convalescent and low-acuity care and will help to unburden the local hospital and ambulance systems.