In the following statement, National Nurses United (NNU)—the nation’s largest union of registered nurses—extends official congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on winning the 2020 presidential election:

As nurses, we never give up on our patients, and to make sure their voices are heard, we never give up on the democratic process. We are so proud to know that after the votes were tallied, our endorsed candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be the next president and vice president, respectively.

The work of nurses, in alliance with the work of the progressive movement, including our allies in labor, racial justice, environmental justice, and other community activists was decisive in achieving this victory. It is a big win for public health and safety, for science, for union organizing, and collective bargaining rights.

Biden has committed to a thoughtful and comprehensive response to the pandemic from the federal government, pledging to fully invoke the Defense Production Act to mass produce personal protective equipment (PPE). He has also endorsed NNU’s call for an emergency federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard to protect workers’ safety during pandemics. As members of a women-dominated profession and union, NNU nurses are especially proud to know that we will have our first woman, and first Black and South Asian American vice president in Harris.

Of course, there is still work to be done, as we round the 10 million mark for Covid-19 infections in the United States. We cannot forget that right now, people in the United States are dying, children and families don’t have food. So nurses are not going to wait until January 20 to escalate a massive campaign on strong, effective safety measures in our communities, our hospitals, and across the country.

The voice of nurses and our allies will remain important. We look forward to working closely with our new president and vice president on the road forward.