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Read. Follow. Verify.Save Healthcare Workers Act (H.R. 3178)
Last action · May 5, 2025: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.Sponsors: Madeleine Dean and 67 others
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What This Bill Would Do
This bill proposes a new federal crime for assaulting or intimidating hospital employees while they are performing their duties. It establishes specific prison sentences and fines for these offenses, with enhanced penalties for the use of weapons, causing , or committing the act during a declared public emergency.
If passed, this bill would create a new federal criminal offense for assaulting hospital staff, potentially leading to prison sentences of up to 20 years depending on the circumstances of the incident.
Who It Would Affect
Groups the bill's text would affect if enacted, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Hospital employees
They are the protected class under the proposed federal criminal statute.
Individuals accused of assaulting hospital staff
They would face potential federal prosecution and increased sentencing guidelines.
Federal, State, and local law enforcement
They would be tasked with investigating and prosecuting these crimes under the new federal framework.
Key Facts
- Creates a new federal offense for knowingly assaulting hospital personnel during the performance of their duties.
- Standard penalty for assault is a fine and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.
- Enhanced penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and/or fines applies if a dangerous weapon is used or bodily injury occurs.
- Enhanced penalty of up to 20 years imprisonment and/or fines applies if the assault occurs during a declared public emergency.
Show all 9 facts
- Provides an affirmative defense if the defendant has a physical, mental, or intellectual disability and the conduct was a direct manifestation of that disability.
- Applies to employees of hospitals and entities contracting with medical facilities.
- Defines 'hospital' to include general hospitals, long-term care, rehabilitation, cancer, children's, critical access, and rural emergency hospitals.
- Defines 'declaration of a public emergency' to include public health emergencies declared by the HHS Secretary or disasters declared by the President.
- Congress justifies federal intervention by citing the impact of hospital violence on interstate commerce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this bill cover all medical workers?
What happens if the person who committed the assault has a disability?
Does this replace state laws regarding assault?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Currently in committee. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Floor Vote.
Procedural history
2 actions- May 5, 2025HouseCommitteeReferred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- May 5, 2025HouseIntroducedIntroduced in House
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Show 63 more sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Federalization of Hospital Safety
The bill explicitly seeks to move beyond state-level prosecution by establishing federal jurisdiction, citing the economic impact of healthcare on interstate commerce.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.congress.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy40Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
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