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
Madam Speaker, to date, more than 85,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and that number continues to grow. More than 36 million Americans have applied for unemployment insurance over the past eight weeks, which is more than one in every five American workers.
Madam Speaker, I want to remind us today of President Lincoln’s words to Congress. He said: ‘the dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.’ So it is today.
Chairwoman of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Rep. Judy Chu (CA-27):
House Democrats are committed to ensuring the House can legislate during this unprecedented crisis and worked to secure temporary changes to allow for remote voting and virtual committee proceedings on a bipartisan basis. For several weeks, Democrats worked in good faith to reach a bipartisan agreement. Here’s a look at the timeline:
Thank you, Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole. I appreciate the opportunity to testify today on house consideration of H. Res. 965, which I would like to bring to the Floor Alongside the Heroes Act.
Yesterday, House Democrats introduced a resolution to temporarily allow remote voting and virtual committee proceedings during the coronavirus pandemic. Just like other nations and states, the House must continue operating for the people. Here is a look press coverage on the resolution:
Wanted to be sure you saw this Washington Post editorial today in support of the House moving forward with a resolution to allow for remote voting and virtual committee proceedings.
Members on both sides of the aisle have urged we act to ensure the House can continue legislating during this pandemic. Rather than moving forward with a Democratic proposal last month, we formed this task force to give bipartisan compromise another chance.
House Democrats are proposing temporary changes to allow for remote voting on the House Floor and virtual committee proceedings during the coronavirus pandemic. The changes would enable Congress to continue legislating by:
"And then there’s the US Congress, which hasn’t officially gone to full video hearings, though some senators joined their colleagues via video for hearings this week. But lawmakers in the House and the Senate haven’t yet budged on the question of remote voting."