Former Vice President and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden drew attention to the work and sacrifices of public service workers battling the coronavirus during a town hall on April 8.

“They are busting their neck,” Biden said, referring to frontline workers including first responders, doctors, nurses, police officers, fire fighters, grocery workers, and janitors. “They’re the ones who built this country. We have new appreciation for what’s being done by so many good people.”

Biden expressed support for a number of initiatives which would better arm and protect frontline workers in their daily efforts to keep communities safe and moving forward during the pandemic; these include the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act; government coverage of COBRA costs; and an additional congressional pandemic aid package

In support of his positions, the former Vice President said “We can’t let public sector workers risk losing pay. We need to boost support for state and local governments and make sure that through their unions public sector workers have a voice.”

Read more about the town hall and Biden’s support for frontline workers during the coronavirus pandemic here.