H.R. 3136: Protect our Public Health Workforce Act (119th Congress) Bill Summary

This bill, titled the Protect our Public Health Workforce Act, aims to reinstate certain employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) who were dismissed or removed from their positions without cause. It specifically applies to federal employees at the CDC who were terminated during the period from January 20, 2025, up to the bill's enactment date. The main points of the bill are as follows:

Reinstatement of Employees

The bill provides that any federal employee who was involuntarily removed or otherwise dismissed from the CDC during the specified period may choose to be:

Reinstated to their former position or a similar one.
Compensated with backpay as specified under federal regulations.

Reporting Requirements

The bill mandates that the Director of the CDC must submit reports to Congress regarding the removed or dismissed employees. The specifics of these reports include:

The total number of employees removed or dismissed during the reporting period.
The job titles and descriptions associated with each dismissal.
The reasons provided for each employee's removal or dismissal.

The first report is due within 60 days of the bill’s enactment and must be submitted every three months thereafter. The requirement for these reports will end on January 20, 2029.

Congressional Committees Involved

The reports are to be submitted to several designated congressional committees, which include:

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
The Committee on Energy and Commerce (House of Representatives)
The Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs (Senate)
The Committee on Health, Education, and Labor and Pensions (Senate)

Overall Objective

The overall objective of the bill is to ensure that federal employees who were allegedly wrongfully dismissed from the CDC are given the opportunity to return to their previous roles while increasing transparency regarding employee dismissals within the agency.