WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03) issued a statement in support of the new Biden administration effort and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)  emergency workplace standard to require employers with 100 or more employees to ensure all their workers are vaccinated or produce a negative test on a weekly basis.

“This new workplace standard by the Biden administration is welcome news and will save lives. With COVID-19 as the new leading cause of death in Arizona, I applaud this effort to mitigate transmission of the virus in the workplace. Right now, people are uncomfortable risking themselves or their families to be in unsafe working conditions – and that must change. Having unvaccinated employees harms businesses as workers fall ill, spread the virus in the workplace, and businesses are forced to close and quarantine for extended periods of time. As we continue to see a rise in breakthrough cases and strained hospitals in Arizona, I encourage individuals to get vaccinated, to get their booster shots, wear masks and continue practicing safe public health protocols.”