Congress Combats Coronavirus with $7.767B Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of bipartisan, bicameral negotiators have agreed on a robust emergency supplemental funding package to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the Coronavirus. The package provides $7.767 billion in emergency appropriations, more than triple the Administration’s original request. The legislation, filed today in the House of Representatives, will allow for necessary precautions, prevention, and treatment at the local, state, federal, and international levels. Congressional action on the package is expected this week, beginning in the House of Representatives. Ahead of speaking on the Senate floor Wednesday afternoon, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) issued the following statement on the agreement:
“This should not be about politics; this is about doing our job to protect the American people from a potential pandemic. We worked together to craft an aggressive and comprehensive response that provides the resources the experts say they need to combat this crisis. I thank my colleagues for their cooperation and appreciate President Trump’s eagerness to sign this legislation and get the funding out the door without delay.”
Funding in the $7.767 billion supplemental legislation is designated specifically for Coronavirus prevention, preparation, and response efforts – with 85 percent to be spent domestically. The package provides funding through the Departments of Health and Human Services ($6.497 billion) and State ($1.25 billion), as well as the Food and Drug Administration ($61 million) and the Small Business Administration ($20 million).
The following are links to the legislative text and summary for the emergency supplemental to combat the coronavirus:
Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Text
Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Summary
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