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Congresswoman Lori Trahan (D-MA) voted in favor of legislation to provide $8.3 billion for a robust response to the ongoing coronavirus crisis, including support for state and local health agencies, vaccine and treatment development, and loans for affected small businesses.
“The American people deserve and expect a coordinated, fully funded, whole-of-government response to contain the spread of the coronavirus. By providing new, necessary funding this legislation positions the United States to mount an effective response at every level of government. Lives are at stake, and I am proud to have supported this bipartisan package that puts the health and safety of the American people first,” said Trahan.
Last week, Trahan launched a new RESOURCES page on her official congressional website, and urged constituents to take advantage of it should questions arise regarding best practices for keeping themselves and their families safe. The page also aggregates important updates and advisories from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other federal agencies.
Among its provisions, the emergency supplemental includes:
- More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;
- $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response, $950 million of which is to support state and local health agencies;
- Nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers, and to improve medical surge capacity;
- $435 million to support health systems overseas to prevent, prepare, and respond to the coronavirus;
- $300 million to respond to humanitarian needs;
- $61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions; and
- Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses.
The emergency supplemental also contains other strong provisions to ensure a full response and keep Americans safe. The bill:
- Requires that funds are only used to fight the coronavirus and other infectious diseases;
- Allows seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment;
- Helps ensure that vaccines and treatments for coronavirus are affordable; and
- Ensures that state and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response.
Additionally, the bill includes a requirement to reimburse $136 million to important health accounts, including mental health and substance abuse treatment and prevention and heating and cooling assistance for low-income families, that was transferred by the Trump administration to support its response.
The text of the coronavirus supplemental, H.R. 6074, is here. A summary of H.R. 6074 is here.
