Review of Bill (Essay Sample)

Review of Bill Student’s First Name, Middle Initial(s), Last Name Institution Affiliation Course Name and Number Instructor’s Name and Title Assignment Due Date Review of Bill Provisions of the Bill The H.R. 1195 bill addressed workplace violence in healthcare facilities and social workers settings. The bill is addressed to the Department of Labor to ensure it implements adequate measures to prevent workplace violence for social workers and healthcare professionals. The bill requires the formulation of interim health and occupational safety standards for healthcare workers and social workers to reduce violence in their workplaces which can affect their productivity and service delivery immensely. The standards, promulgated within a specified time when the bill is enacted, will protect nurse practitioners from violence during their professional practice, increasing their productivity and ensuring they deliver high-quality services to their patients. Background and Relevant Facts Workplace violence in the health sector has increased significantly over recent years. The study results by Bernardes et al. (2020), research revealed that 88.9% of the nurses experienced workplace violence, with 25.4% reporting mobbing, 38% reporting verbal violence, 3.5% reporting racial discrimination, and 9.1% reported sexual harassment. The study revealed that despite the high rate of workplace violence that nurse practitioners experience, 90% of the violence cases are preventable (Bernardes et al., 2020). The main triggers of aggression and violence towards nurse professionals are harassment from patients, consumer-related violence, or relationship violence which affects their delivery of healthcare services to the patients. Thus, the bill is essential since it will curb the violence cases against nurse professionals in their practice. Relevant History Similar related bills were introduced to the 115th and 116th House of Representatives but became dormant. The H.R. 1195 bill was introduced in the House of Representatives on February 22, 2021 by Rep. Joe Courtney. The H.R. 1195 bill was referred to three House of Representative committees on February 22nd. The first committee was the House’s Committee on House Ways and Means which discharged the bill on 5th April. It referred the bill to its subcommittee on Health. It was also referred to the House Committee on House Education and Labor and marked up on March 24, 2021, and reported on April 5, 2021. The third committee was the House Committee on Energy and Commerce which discharged it on April 4, 2021. It referred it to its subcommittee on Health on 23rd February. After being passed by the House of Representatives, on 19th April, it was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The updated bill was published on April 6, 2021, as a preprint, and on April 16, 2021, the bill was passed in the House of Representatives and was moved to the Senate for further deliberation. According to GovTrack.us (2022), 60% of the members of the House of Representatives voted for the bill to pass. Among them were 216 Democrats and 38 Republicans. Forty percent of the House of Representatives members voted against the bill, with all 166 being Republicans (GovTrack.us, 2022). A total of eight members of the House of Representatives did not vote. Key Supporters and Opponents of the Bill The H.R. 1195 had 145 cosponsors, most of whom were Democrats. The key supporters of the bill, who voted overwhelmingly for it are the Democrat House representatives. One of the main reasons for supporting the bill was to propel the agenda of their political party; thus, showing the clear differences in support and opposition between the Democrats and the Republicans. The second reason the supporters support the bill is to reduce the increasing violence in the healthcare sector against health professionals. Most of the bill's opponents were Republicans, as evidenced by the high votes against the bill. Although some Republicans supported the bill, most of them were against bill for political purposes since their political rivals, the Democrats, introduced the bill. Positions of Key Stakeholders The key stakeholders of the bill are the people who will be affected by the bill. In this case, the potential key stakeholders of the bill are healthcare professionals and social workers. The key stakeholders would want the bill to pass since it will assure them of a violence-free environment. The pros of the stakeholder’s positions include a better working environment, increased motivation to work, and provision of quality services. The cons to their position may be a stricter working environment which may affect their performance. Impact on Nurse Practitioners’ Provision of Care and Quality Service...