Testimony of HPAE Secretary-Treasurer Alexis Rean-Walker in Support of A. 4225
NJ Assembly Judiciary Committee
Statement of Alexis Rean-Walker, HPAE Secretary-Treasurer
In support of A.4255
Monday, July 20, 2020
Good Morning Chairman Mukherji and the members of Assembly Judiciary Committee. My name is Alexis Rean-Walker, Secretary-Treasurer of HPAE, representing 14,0000 nurses and health care workers across New Jersey in hospitals, nursing homes, blood bank facilities, medical research labs, behavioral health and addiction recovery facilities. Thank you for the opportunity to highlight the need to expand access to professional and occupational licenses for those qualified to obtain licensure. We strongly urge you to vote in favor of A. 4225, sponsored by Assemblyman Mukherji, Assemblywoman Lopez and Assemblyman Schaer.
Later this afternoon, HPAE is holding a press conference to release a white paper titled, “Exposed & At-Risk” which highlights the experiences of HPAE members who worked on the frontlines battling COVID-19 for the last four months. Included in the report are recommendation for how NJ can be better prepared for any surges in COVID-19 or any future pandemic outbreaks. One of those recommendations is to improve staffing capacity at healthcare facilities to ensure patients’ treatment plans are provided in a safe manner and lead to better health outcomes for vulnerable and highest risk patients.