Above: Gottheimer hosts virtual health care roundtable this week.

On July 30, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a virtual health care roundtable with North Jersey doctors, nurses, health care officials, and long-term care facility administrators from Fifth District hospitals and health care providers to discuss North Jersey’s coronavirus response and preparedness. 

“I’d like to thank all of our health care professionals joining me today who have been such courageous leaders through, what I see as, the eye of the COVID-19 storm. Your hours of dedication to making sure we are all safe and healthy are nothing short of extraordinary,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) to today’s health care roundtable participants. “We need to make sure that we are prepared for a possible second wave of the virus, and it is my job to make sure that you have everything you need from the federal level, from PPE to testing supplies, which will help you do your jobs safely and effectively.”

Gottheimer was joined by health care leaders and officials from New Bridge Medical Center, Holy Name Medical Center, Hackensack University Medical Center, Valley Health System, Atlantic Health System, CareOne at New Milford, CareOne at the Cupola, and The Chelsea at Bald Eagle. 

In Congress, Gottheimer is leading numerous initiatives to support medical supply chain and North Jersey’s coronavirus preparedness:

• Gottheimer has introduced the Nursing Home Pandemic Protection Act, with Rep. Chris Smith, which requires that nursing homes share data on infection rates with the CDC, have crisis plans in place to manage any future outbreaks of COVID or any other future pandemics including specific metrics on staffing, infection control, and PPE, and have a required stockpile of PPE. 

• Gottheimer has introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation — the SMART Fund — which is a $500 billion emergency investment to every single state, county and community in the country, while prioritizing assistance to the areas with the greatest need.

• Gottheimer led a bipartisan effort, with 25 Members of Congress, to call on House leadership to address the shortage of needles and syringes in anticipation of a COVID-19 vaccine.

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