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Rep. Sánchez Votes for Emergency Coronavirus Funding

March 4, 2020

Washington, DCU.S. Rep. Linda T. Sánchez (CA-38) today released the following statement on House passage of an $8.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill to address the novel coronavirus outbreak.

"The growing number of coronavirus cases in California and across the country demands an urgent response," said Congresswoman Sánchez. "We passed a robust spending package to ensure that communities have the proper resources needed to combat the spread of the virus and keep Americans safe. Now, I urge the Senate and President to move quickly and enact this emergency funding."

The $8.3 billion 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 & 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;
  • $61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions;
  • $1.25 billion to address the coronavirus abroad to help keep Americans safe here at home; and
  • Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses, to help cushion the economic blow of this public health emergency.

It also contains other strong provisions to ensure a full response. The bill:

  • Allows seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment;
  • Requires the Trump administration to reimburse health accounts that were previously raided to pay for the coronavirus response;
  • Ensures 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.

For more information on the roronavirus and tips to stay healthy, see Rep. Sánchez's newsletter here.

Issues:Health Care