Congressman Kildee Supports $8.3 Billion in Emergency Funds to Combat Coronavirus

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, voted to pass H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, which provides new emergency funding to fully address the coronavirus and protect Americans from this public health crisis.

"The federal government must do more to protect Americans against the spread of the coronavirus. I am pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives acted swiftly to address this global emergency and make sure that the federal government has the resources necessary for an effective, coordinated, and comprehensive response to this public health crisis. The emergency supplemental funds new research and development for vaccines, sends resources to state and local health agencies, and procures the necessary medical supplies we need."

The $8.3 billion emergency supplemental is entirely new funding—not funding stolen from other critical public health priorities—to combat the coronavirus, including:

• 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;

• 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;
• Provides $300 million so the government can purchase vaccines at a fair and reasonable price;
• 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.

Last week, the Trump Administration requested $2.5 billion to combat the coronavirus. However, health experts said that more resources are needed to combat the growing health epidemic. Additionally, $1.25 billion of the administration's proposal would be transferred from funding already allocated to fighting other infectious diseases, including Ebola virus, as well as stealing money from the National Cancer Institute and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a program that helps low-income Michiganders pay for heat during the winter.

The CDC has produced a fact sheet with frequently asked questions about the coronavirus here. Local health departments are also regularly providing updates, including the Saginaw County Health Department and the Genesee County Health Department.

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