U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after voting for bipartisan legislation to provide $7.8 billion in emergency funding for coronavirus preparedness and response efforts:
“Our country can overcome any challenge when we work together, which is why Congress and the administration are putting politics aside to focus on keeping the American people healthy and safe. This commonsense, bipartisan legislation will provide critical resources for federal, state, and local authorities, as well as health care workers across the country, to combat coronavirus. While the threat to Hoosiers remains low, I will continue working to ensure officials and providers in Indiana have the tools and information they need to protect our communities.”
Walorski today launched a web page – walorski.house.gov/coronavirus – to provide the latest information to 2nd District Hoosiers, including coronavirus symptoms and steps everyone can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The page will continue to be updated as the situation evolves.
The House today passed H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, by a vote of 415 to 2. The bipartisan legislation provides $7.8 billion in emergency funding, including:
- More than $4 billion to expand availability of diagnostic kits, support treatments to ease coronavirus symptoms, and invest in vaccine development;
- $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including nearly $1 billion for state and local response efforts;
- $20 million for small business disaster assistance loans; and
- $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide.
Earlier this week, Walorski visited the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) coronavirus command center and received an update on the federal response to the COVID-19 outbreak.
