Rep. Mike Levin Helps Pass $8.3 Billion in Emergency Federal Funding to Combat Coronavirus
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mike Levin (D-CA) helped pass the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020, which includes $8.3 billion in new federal funding, as well as strong transparency and accountability measures. Last week, Levin and his colleagues called on House and Senate leadership requesting comprehensive supplemental funding to address the coronavirus. Also today, Rep. Levin and his colleagues urged President Trump to make swift improvements in the Administrations’ response to the coronavirus outbreak.
“The American people need a comprehensive federal response to the coronavirus epidemic, and I was proud to help pass bipartisan emergency funding that meets the scale of this crisis,” said Rep. Levin. “We are investing billions to develop vaccines and diagnostics, procure medical supplies and pharmaceuticals, support state and local health agencies, and more. We also passed strong protections against price-gouging to help ensure that vaccines and treatments are affordable for everyday Americans. Democrats and Republicans put politics aside to pass this critical funding package, and that’s what we must continue to do as we fight this epidemic. As always, Americans should listen to the experts, follow recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control, and take common preventive steps to remain healthy.”
The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 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;
- $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 bill also contains other strong provisions to ensure a full response and keep Americans safe:
- 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.
For recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and more information on the local response to the coronavirus, click here.
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