Written by: Kevin Derby, Sunshine State News

Two congresswomen from South Florida--Republican U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Democrat U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel--introduced the “Protecting Seniors During Disasters Act," a counterpart to a bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., last week. 

After 11 seniors died in a Hollywood nursing home during the hurricane earlier this month, Nelson and Rubio teamed up with U.S. Sens. Bob Casey, D-Penn., and Susan Collins, R-Maine, last week introduce a bill creating a national advisory committee on the matter.  

The bill makes the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Department create a National Advisory Committee on Seniors and Disasters. Under the proposal, the HHS secretary would name 15 federal and other governmental officials and health-care professionals with experience in disaster response to the committee. 

Ros-Lehtinen and Frankel brought out the House version of that proposal on Monday. 

“The shocking reality of 11 gruesome deaths at a South Florida nursing home after Hurricane Irma ripped through our area will spur many changes to procedures and regulations guiding these institutions and we hope that our bill will help to protect vulnerable seniors,” Ros-Lehtinen said. “The bill introduced by my friend and colleague, Lois, and me will mandate that we analyze how seniors can be better cared for during natural disasters and provide recommendations that can be implemented to help save lives. Our bill would ensure that proper disaster plans and responses would be in place for nursing homes.” 

“Hurricane Irma here in Florida made it abundantly clear that our seniors are at much greater risk for harm than the general population,” Frankel said. “The tragedy of the Hollywood nursing home where more than 10 patients died due to an apparent lack of air conditioning in sweltering conditions must never be repeated." 

Ros-Lehtinen’s and Frankel’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee on Monday.