Survivors' Access to Supportive Care Act

ENA actively supports legislation that will speed the development of training materials and protocols related to the treatment of survivors of sexual assault, as well as ensure that survivors have access to high-quality patient-centered appropriate care. SASCA (H.R. 1082/ S. 402) will increase access to medical forensic sexual assault examinations and treatment provided by sexual assault forensic examiners for survivors by identifying and addressing gaps in obtaining those services.

Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act

At the federal level, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), a division of the Department of Labor, is charged with assuring safe and healthful working conditions for men and women in the United States. They do this by setting and enforcing national standards to maintain safety and prevent injuries, including those related to workplace violence. Although federal research demonstrates that workplace violence is a serious concern for the nation’s 15 million health care workers, there is no national standard in place aimed at preventing and responding to workplace violence in health care facilities. ENA is working to support legislation and regulatory policies to enact a national standard related to workplace violence in health care settings. This would ensure that employers assess elements such as the physical security of their facilities, staffing issues related to security, training for employees on mitigating and responding to violence, and support for workers when they are assaulted. A national standard developed by OSHA would ensure that all health care employers take similar steps to protect their workers from violence and support them when assaults do occur.