Coronavirus
Responding to Coronavirus
House Democrats are working to address the public health emergency created by the outbreak of a new coronavirus, named COVID-19.
On March 4th, Congress passed $8.3 billion in emergency funds to provide funding for prevention, preparedness, and response efforts; for the development of treatments and a vaccine; and for low-interest SBA loans to support small businesses that have been affected.
On March 18th, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law. This legislation works to address the economic impacts being felt by Americans; it ensures that testing for coronavirus is free, provides for emergency paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave, ensures the availability of unemployment insurance, and secures access to nutrition for children, seniors, and low-income families.
On March 27th, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide further economic assistance to families facing lost income and industry sectors whose employees are bearing the brunt of this public health crisis. Work is continuing on additional legislation to respond to this pandemic.
On May 15th, House Democrats passed the Heroes Act to honor frontline workers by providing critical funding to state, local, and tribal governments; establishing hazard pay for frontline workers; expanding testing, treatment, and tracing; and providing additional financial relief to Americans.
Click here to view a report on how these bills are providing relief to the American people. In addition, committees are continuing to work remotely during this crisis by holding virtual hearings, briefings, and forums on the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. Click here to learn more.
On March 4th, Congress passed $8.3 billion in emergency funds to provide funding for prevention, preparedness, and response efforts; for the development of treatments and a vaccine; and for low-interest SBA loans to support small businesses that have been affected.
On March 18th, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act was signed into law. This legislation works to address the economic impacts being felt by Americans; it ensures that testing for coronavirus is free, provides for emergency paid sick leave and paid family and medical leave, ensures the availability of unemployment insurance, and secures access to nutrition for children, seniors, and low-income families.
On March 27th, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to provide further economic assistance to families facing lost income and industry sectors whose employees are bearing the brunt of this public health crisis. Work is continuing on additional legislation to respond to this pandemic.
On May 15th, House Democrats passed the Heroes Act to honor frontline workers by providing critical funding to state, local, and tribal governments; establishing hazard pay for frontline workers; expanding testing, treatment, and tracing; and providing additional financial relief to Americans.
Click here to view a report on how these bills are providing relief to the American people. In addition, committees are continuing to work remotely during this crisis by holding virtual hearings, briefings, and forums on the health and economic impacts of the pandemic. Click here to learn more.
Related
Hoyer Discusses Legacy of Rep. John Lewis, the Need to Provide Coronavirus Relief on CNN’s “New Day”
House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) joined CNN’s “New Day” this morning to discuss the life and legacy of his dear friend Rep. John Lewis, the urgent need to provide coronavirus relief to the American people, and the insufficient GOP proposal that was released yesterday.
Today, more than two months after the Democratic-led House passed the Heroes Act and after weeks of internal division, Senate Republicans have finally announced their own proposal. With the clock ticking on expiring programs that have been protecting renters and homeowners and sustaining those who have found themselves unexpectedly needing unemployment insurance, Senate Republicans have had weeks to work with the House to craft an emergency aid package that extends these programs, provides resources necessary to defeat this virus, and helps keep public servants like teachers and first responders safely on the job.
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the United States surpassed 4 million confirmed coronavirus cases:
We passed a bill over two months ago to respond to the needs that we saw in America for a lot of different sectors of our country, including state and local governments, tribal governments and territories; including hospital, testing and tracing so that we could get a handle on this virus; and payments to individuals, individual families, and businesses. That has been ignored for essentially two months.
With COVID-19 infections continuing to surge in many states, it is critical that the House keep taking the steps necessary to engage in the people’s business safely and in a way that does not exacerbate this crisis. That’s why we passed H. Res. 965, which provided for House committees to meet virtually using secure, remote technologies as well as for proxy voting through a system that is verifiable and safe.
I think the Senate is under a lot of pressure. I think the Republican Senators are under a lot of pressure…
The President is urging that we go back to school. I think most Americans want their kids to get back to school, but they want them to go back safely, and they don't want them to be bringing COVID-19 back to the homes. That is all going to take resources, as so many of the people that you interviewed this morning say. What Mitch Mcconnell's response was: let the states go bankrupt.
With 3 million confirmed cases in the United States, no one – not even President Trump – can deny that our country is experiencing an unprecedented public health crisis, one that has already taken the lives of over 133,000 of our fellow Americans and which threatens the lives and livelihoods of so many more.
The Majority Leader’s Office has issued the following report on the stark contrast between both parties when it comes to health care priorities. While Republicans work to sabotage health care during a pandemic, House Democrats are working to lower drug costs and expand coverage.
Wanted to be sure you saw this USA Today op-ed by House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (MD) published today on how action is required on election security meausres to ensure democracy is not jepordized and every American can vote safely this Election Day. To read the post, click here or see below: