Congresswoman Elaine Luria has announced her support for the National Public Health Corps Act (H.R. 6822), which would create a new branch of national service to utilize and mobilize those who want to serve on the frontlines of combating COVID-19 in communities across the country.
“I am proud to join this bipartisan effort to promote public service as we continue to combat the spread of COVID,” said Luria, D-Va. “As someone who has answered the call to serve our nation in the Navy, I believe that the National Public Health Corps will help fill a gap in our health care sector and provide more resources to properly test and trace COVID-19.”
This bill would leverage existing national service structures to deploy personnel to local communities to support public health activities, such as contact tracing and testing.
Much like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and YouthBuild, which transform lives through skill development, the National Public Health Corps would address pressing community needs related to COVID-19 and continue to inspire the next generation to enter public service.