H.R. 3136 — Protect our Public Health Workforce Act

This section requires, at the election of the affected individual, the reinstatement of any Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) employee involuntarily removed or dismissed without cause from January 20, 2025, through the date of enactment to the same or an equivalent position with back pay under the Back Pay Act (5 U.S.C. 5596). (Thus, eligible employees may receive an amount equal to pay, allowances, or differentials they would have earned during the separation period—less amounts earned from other employment—plus reasonable attorney fees and restored annual leave, and are deemed to have performed service for the CDC during that period.)

This section requires the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to submit reports to specified congressional committees not later than 60 days after enactment of this Act and every three months thereafter through January 20, 2029, on CDC employees removed or dismissed during the covered period. The reports must include (1) the total number of such employees, (2) the title and job description for each, and (3) the reason for each removal or dismissal. The specified committees are the House Committees on Oversight and Government Reform and Energy and Commerce, and the Senate Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.