DeLauro Votes for $8.3 Billion Coronavirus Supplemental Funding Agreement

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, released the following statement after voting to pass the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020 (H.R. 6074), an emergency supplemental funding agreement to combat the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

"I am proud of the bipartisan, bicameral emergency supplemental funding bill Appropriators crafted to address the public health emergency posed by the coronavirus. In particular, $950 million of the $8.3 billion in funding will help ensure that state and local governments are reimbursed for the work they are doing to track and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. And nearly $500 million is set to be distributed as quickly as possible to reimburse them for costs expended since January 20. With those in-demand resources, our public health agencies can quickly and comprehensively keep the American people safe."

"The bill also includes funding to support health workers, as well as much-needed funding for Community Health Centers. And it includes $500 million for procurement of masks, drugs, personal protective equipment, and other medical supplies for the Strategic National Stockpile."

"On vaccines, the emergency supplemental provides more than $3 billion for the research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics. It also requires a fair and reasonable price when the Government buys these products developed with taxpayer dollars, as well as authority for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make the vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics developed from funding in this bill to be affordable in the commercial market. I urge HHS Secretary Alex Azar to use this provision."

"This supplemental funding package is a win for the American people. This robust funding is desperately needed, and I am proud to see its quick passage on in the House of Representatives."

The $8.3 billion in funding provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 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 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;
• $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;
• $300 million so the government can purchase vaccines at a fair and reasonable price;
• 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; and
• Provisions that will:
  • Allow seniors to access telemedicine services for coronavirus treatment;
  • Require the Trump administration to reimburse health accounts that were previously raided to pay for the coronavirus response;
  • Ensure state and local governments are reimbursed for costs incurred while assisting the federal response.
  • Require vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics developed using taxpayer funds must be available for purchase by the Federal government at a fair and reasonable price.
  • Allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services to ensure that vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics developed using taxpayer funds be affordable in the commercial market.

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