WASHINGTON, D.C. — While Congress remains divided over so many aspects of continued coronavirus relief, there is bipartisan support for a bill that would offer hotels a new purpose in the pandemic.

“It would allow a hotel to voluntarily convert itself to a COVID housing facility, and if you get infected — whoever you are — you could go and quarantine yourself in a hotel, instead of in the home where it spreads rapidly,” Representative Anthony Gonzalez said in a Zoom interview on July 21.

Gonzalez (R, 16th Congressional District) and Rep. Dave Joyce (R, 14th Congressional District) have teamed up with fellow northeast Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan (D, 13th Congressional District) — a Democrat — to introduce the “Isolate COVID-19 Act.”

“Poor people can’t isolate,” Ryan said in an interview on July 21. “There’s nowhere to go. And instead of having them contaminate their families, and revenues are down for hotels, it’s a win-win.”

The bill would create a $1 billion federal program that states could access to lease hotels so people who can’t quarantine would have a place to voluntarily go. And it would put in place rules to ensure hotel staff are protected, a health professional is onsite or on call, and those isolating have access to food and supplies without leaving their room.

The congressmen say the legislation is intended to help low income and minority families, who have been hit hardest by the pandemic in multiple ways. They often work jobs in tighter quarters where they can be exposed to the virus and they may live in smaller, multi-generational homes where isolation isn’t possible.

The bill would also help the hotel industry, which has struggled since the lockdowns started.

Joyce said in a statement that more than 100,000 Ohio workers have lost their hotel-related jobs. The Ohio Hotel and Lodging Association has endorsed the legislation. “This was the missing piece,” said Joe Savarise, the association’s executive director.

“We have hotels that are ready to be part of the community and state response. We have safe ways to use these proprieties to be part of that response — and to put them back into service safely when that time comes. But what was really missing was the funding element.”

Savarise said over 600 Ohio hotels have expressed interest.

The bill has also been endorsed by Akron-based Summa Health and University Hospitals in Cleveland.