Lilieth Clacken feels like she’s just emerging from the most frightening time of her life. She’s a home health aid, and the pandemic made bringing care to her clients dangerous for her and others like her.

"I lost many of my colleagues. Many died. Many of our aids literally died. They had to take public transportation and they contracted the virus and many of our clients died as well,” said Clacken.

She's been a home health aid for six years and said her love for what she does helps her to press on.

“I got myself all geared up with my mask and whatever it takes to keep me safe. Yes, I was terrified but still courageous to do what I needed to do because my patients depended on me,” said Clacken.

But Clacken said that passion is not reflected in the pay where many home health care workers in the state don't make more than minimum wage.

That’s why she joined dozens of others at a union rally Tuesday. 1199 Service Employee International Union represents about 50,000 home health care workers in New York State. They're urging congress to pass President Biden’s Better Care Better Jobs Act, which would provide $400 billion to expand homecare and community based-services.

Senate Majority leader Charles Schumer joined the rally in support of the bill.

“I’m fighting so hard in Washington for home based community services which we call ‘hbcs,’ which will provide more of these home health care workers, pay them adequate wages and help our whole society,” said Schumer.

Workers who rallied said better pay and hazard pay may help attract others to the field, a necessity as there's been a shortage of home aids. Carlene HoSang said she believes the personalized care they deliver is invaluable.

“That home care worker becomes your friend, becomes your family, becomes your doctor, becomes your nurse. We are the eyes and ears of the patients in their homes,” said HoSang.

“We want to stay in it, even though it's so low paid, it's the commitment and the love. You have to have something special to do this for people,” said Clacken.

They consider the work essential and that’s why they say they'll continue to put in the work as they rally for better compensation.