The SAFE TO WORK Act (Bill S. 3708) is designed to protect businesses and healthcare providers from being sued if someone thinks they were exposed to COVID-19 in their premises. This protection would not apply if the business or healthcare provider was grossly negligent or intentionally harmful. The goal of the bill is to allow businesses and healthcare providers to function during the pandemic without the fear of being sued.
Supporters in the media praise the bill as a necessary measure to protect businesses and healthcare providers from potentially crippling lawsuits during an already difficult time. They argue that the bill allows these entities to focus on providing services and contributing to the economy, rather than worrying about legal battles. Some outlets highlight that the bill still allows for legal action in cases of gross negligence or intentional misconduct, ensuring that entities cannot act irresponsibly without consequences.
Critics in the media argue that the bill could potentially shield negligent businesses and healthcare providers, thus endangering workers and customers. They worry that the bill's protections might discourage businesses and healthcare providers from taking all necessary precautions to prevent COVID-19 transmission. Some outlets also express concerns that the terms 'gross negligence' and 'intentional misconduct' are too high a bar, making it difficult for individuals to seek legal redress if they believe they've been exposed to the virus due to the entity's negligence.
The bill S. 3708, sponsored by Tom Cotton, is aimed at amending the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to make it applicable to hardrock minerals. The top donor industries for Tom Cotton are Retired, Securities & Investment, and Government, with no direct overlap detected between these industries and the subject matter of the bill. Therefore, based on the available data, there is a low risk of potential conflicts of interest. The lobbying activity in the bill's policy area does not involve any of the sponsor's top donor industries, further reducing the risk of conflicts. The total lobbying amount in this policy area is $330,973, but none of this is directly linked to the sponsor's donors.
Organizations that lobbied on issues related to this bill's policy area.
| Client | Lobbying Firm | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| NAIOP | NAIOP | $378,112 |
| SABINE-NECHES NAVIGATION DISTRICT | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $70,000 |
| HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY | HEALTHCARE INSTITUTE OF NEW JERSEY | $50,973 |
| LHOIST NORTH AMERICA, INC. | CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | $50,000 |
| JOHNSTOWN-CAMBRIA COUNTY AIRPORT AUTHORITY & CAMBRIAN HILLS DEVELOPMENT GROUP | CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | $50,000 |
| GHOST ROBOTICS CORPORATION | CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | $50,000 |
| GEISSELE AUTOMATICS | CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | $50,000 |
| HOWMET | CASSIDY & ASSOCIATES, INC. | $40,000 |
| ALTRIA CLIENT SERVICES LLC | SUSAN PLATT | $30,000 |
| LOWER COLORADO RIVER AUTHORITY | MABRY PUBLIC AFFAIRS LLC | $20,000 |
| ALLIANCE OF MARINE MAMMAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS | BLUE SKY CAPITOL CONSULTING, LLC | $20,000 |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS | NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS | undisclosed |
| NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS | NATIONAL COUNCIL OF AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYERS | undisclosed |
| NORTH AMERICAN INSULATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION | NORTH AMERICAN INSULATION MANUFACTURERS ASSOC. | undisclosed |
| RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL US SERVICES LLC | RESTAURANT BRANDS INTERNATIONAL US SERVICES LLC | undisclosed |
Source: Senate Lobbying Disclosure Act (LDA) filings, 2026
Top industries funding Tom Cotton, ranked by total contributions.
Source: OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics)