Save Healthcare Workers Act
Sponsored By: Representative Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create a new federal crime for attacks on hospital staff and would fund a national grant program to reduce workplace violence. It centers on a federal offense and grant program to protect hospital personnel.
Show full summary
- Hospital workers: It would make assaulting an employee of a hospital or its contractors during the performance of duties a federal offense. The baseline penalty is fines and/or up to 10 years in prison, with enhanced penalties up to 20 years for weapon use, serious injury, or during a declared public emergency.
- Hospitals and administrators: The Attorney General could award grants for training, de-escalation and mental health response, coordination with law enforcement, and security technology like cameras, access controls, panic buttons, and safe rooms. Grants must prioritize hospitals with demonstrated need and limit administrative costs to no more than 2 percent.
- Federal enforcement and recipients: The program would be administered under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, require recipient reporting and audits, and encourage federal, state, and local coordination. The law includes an affirmative defense for conduct that is a clear and direct manifestation of a disability.
*Authorizes a dedicated federal appropriation for the grant program and makes funds available through fiscal year 2034.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal penalties for assaulting hospital staff
It would be a federal crime to knowingly assault a hospital worker while they are doing their job. The base penalty would be a fine and up to 10 years in prison. Penalties would rise to up to 20 years if a weapon is used, someone is hurt, or it happens during a declared emergency. There would be a defense if the person has a disability and the conduct was a clear, direct result of that disability. “Hospital” would include acute, long-term, rehab, cancer, children’s, critical access, and rural emergency hospitals.
Grants to hospitals for safety
The Department of Justice would offer grants to hospitals to prevent violence against staff and patients. It would authorize $25 million each year for fiscal years 2025–2034, and money would stay available until spent. Grants could fund training (like de-escalation and mental-health response), work with local police, and security tools such as access control, cameras, metal detectors, panic buttons, alerts, restricted access, and safe rooms. No more than 2% of a grant could go to admin costs, and the hospital’s chief executive would need to apply with a plan and data-reporting promises. The Attorney General would issue rules within 90 days of enactment, seek fair regional distribution with preference for hospitals in need, and report to Congress each year.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]
PA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]
IA • R
Sponsored 5/5/2025
Barr
KY • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Bilirakis
FL • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]
FL • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]
KS • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1]
PA • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]
CO • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]
NC • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3]
MA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Van Drew
NJ • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Van Orden, Derrick [R-WI-3]
WI • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Wittman
VA • R
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]
MI • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]
NY • D
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Sessions
TX • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Carey, Mike [R-OH-15]
OH • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rouzer
NC • R
Sponsored 10/17/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 10/28/2025
Rep. Nunn, Zachary [R-IA-3]
IA • R
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Schrier
WA • D
Sponsored 11/4/2025
Rep. Kiley, Kevin [I-CA-3]
CA • I
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2]
SC • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Buchanan
FL • R
Sponsored 11/12/2025
Craig
MN • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Kelly (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 11/17/2025
Joyce (PA)
PA • R
Sponsored 11/18/2025
Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]
NY • D
Sponsored 11/20/2025
Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5]
TX • R
Sponsored 12/3/2025
Rep. Barragan, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/11/2025
McBride
DE • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Fletcher
TX • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50]
CA • D
Sponsored 12/18/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/7/2026
Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/12/2026
Rutherford
FL • R
Sponsored 1/13/2026
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 2/4/2026
Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/5/2026
Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]
NH • D
Sponsored 4/14/2026
Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7]
CA • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Mannion
NY • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Gonzalez, Vicente [D-TX-34]
TX • D
Sponsored 4/27/2026
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9]
FL • D
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 4/29/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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