‘Hero Fund’ would give frontline pandemic workers up to $25,000

Many call those first responders and health care workers on the front lines heroes. Now, they could get a bonus up to $25,000 for their work.

New York stands as the epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. And from that state comes a plan to reward those who are fighting coronavirus on the front lines — people who risk their lives on the job.

“And after 9/11, Congress created a victims compensation fund,” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “I’ve been working with our congressional delegation. We think the federal government should set up a heroes compensation fund.”

It would be for health care workers, first responders, grocery store workers, bus drivers, postal workers and airport workers. These are all groups of people who are getting the virus and sometimes dying because of their everyday duties.

And now that idea of hazard pay is making its way to Congress. It’s called the “Hero Fund” plan.

“It’s like a war, and we need all the help we can get,” U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer said.

These essential employees could get up to $25,000 in hazard pay.

Florida Congressman Francis Rooney talked around the question when I asked his office if he would support this plan. Rooney said, “There are many means of taking care of people during the pandemic, but the most important issue right now is providing as safe of a workplace as possible.”

Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Rick Scott did not respond to our request for comment.

One possible reason why is because the bill is sponsored by Democrats and calls on taxpayers to pick up the initial cost of the hero fund.

Lee Health says it already provides what it calls “incentive” pay to all employees whose work directly exposes them to the virus.

NCH calls what it pays its staff members on the front lines a “stipend.”