PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.1309 / 116th Congress

Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Official summary

Version 53 · Passed House · Nov 21, 2019

Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act

This bill requires the Department of Labor to address workplace violence in the health care and social service sectors. Specifically, Labor must promulgate an occupational safety and health standard that requires certain employers in the health care and social service sectors, as well as employers in sectors that conduct activities similar to the activities in the health care and social service sectors, to develop and implement a comprehensive plan for protecting health care workers, social service workers, and other personnel from workplace violence.

In addition, those employers must

investigate workplace violence incidents, risks, or hazards as soon as practicable;

provide training and education to employees who may be exposed to workplace violence hazards and risks;

meet record keeping requirements; and

prohibit acts of discrimination or retaliation against employees for reporting workplace violence incidents, threats, or concerns.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] · D–CT

Committees

  • Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Education and Workforce Committee
228 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  2. Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  3. On passage Passed by recorded vote: 251 - 158 (Roll no. 642).

    House roll call 642 · Individual votes
  4. Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 251 - 158 (Roll no. 642).

    House roll call 642 · Individual votes
  5. On motion to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair Agreed to by recorded vote: 222 - 188 (Roll no. 641).

    House roll call 641 · Individual votes
  6. Mr. Hoyer moved to table the motion to appeal the ruling of the chair

  7. Mr. Kelly (PA) appealed the ruling of the chair. The question was then put on sustaining the ruling of the chair.

  8. Mr. Courtney raised a point of order against the motion to recommit with instructions. Mr. Courtney stated that the point of order violated clause 7 of Rule XVI related to the germaneness of the amendment. Sustained by the Chair.

  9. Point of order sustained against the motion to recommit with instructions.

  10. DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Kelly (PA) motion to recommit with instructions, pending the reservation of a point of order. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to add a new section at the end of the bill entitled "Sense of Congress".

  11. Mr. Kelly (PA) moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Education and Labor. (text: CR H9152)

  12. The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

  13. The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

  14. The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 1309.

  15. UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was question on adoption of amendments, which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

  16. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Delgado amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Delgado demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced

  17. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Delgado amendment No. 10.

  18. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Wexton amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Wexton demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  19. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Wexton amendment No. 9.

  20. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Garcia (TX) amendment No. 8.

  21. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Brown (MD) amendment No. 7.

  22. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Green (TX) amendment No. 6.

  23. The House resolved into Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union for further consideration.

  24. Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H9145-9154)

  25. Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 1309 as unfinished business.

  26. On motion that the committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

  27. Mr. Courtney moved that the committee rise.

  28. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Levin (MI) amendment No. 5.

  29. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Harder amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Harder demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  30. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Harder amendment No. 4.

  31. POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Byrne amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment, and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Byrne demanded a recorded vote, and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.

  32. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Byrne amendment No. 3.

  33. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the DeSaulnier amendment No. 2.

  34. DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 713, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hastings amendment No. 1.

  35. GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 1309.

  36. The Speaker designated the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

  37. House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 713 and Rule XVIII.

  38. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1309 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Also provides for proceedings during the period from November 22, 2019 through December 2, 2019 and for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.

  39. Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 713. (consideration: CR H9127-9145; text: CR H9135-9138)

  40. Rule H. Res. 713 passed House.

  41. Rules Committee Resolution H. Res. 713 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 1309 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Also provides for proceedings during the period from November 22, 2019 through December 2, 2019 and for consideration of motions to suspend the rules.

  42. Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 239.

  43. Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

  44. Committee on Ways and Means discharged.

  45. Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

  46. Committee on Energy and Commerce discharged.

  47. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 116-296, Part I.

  48. Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 116-296, Part I.

  49. Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 26 - 18.

  50. Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

  51. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  52. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  53. Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  54. Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  55. Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  56. Introduced in House

  57. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Dec 6, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1309 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1309 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1309 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1309 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources