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Rep. Williams Praises Passage of Coronavirus Emergency Supplemental Bill

March 4, 2020

WASHINGTON, D.C. Congressman Roger Williams (R-TX-25) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved a bipartisan emergency supplemental spending bill for the treatment and prevention of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States:

"The safety and health of Texans will always be my top priority, which is why I called for clean legislation without political gimmicks to address the coronavirus. I know my colleagues–both Republican and Democrat–care deeply about their constituents, and I'm pleased to see the House work together to pass a bipartisan funding bill that will combat the virus' spread in our communities. Effective, calm and smart preparation at both the federal and state level is necessary for tackling this threat, and responsibly providing resources to health experts is necessary to ensuring we are as ready as possible."

Background:

The bipartisan funding bill allocates $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations for the U.S. response to COVID-19. It provides the next installment of funds to address the virus at home and abroad, including expediting vaccine development, purchasing essential equipment and supplies, and assisting state and local health departments. A breakdown of funding is below:

  • More than $4 billion to make diagnostic tests more broadly available, support treatments easing the symptoms of those infected, and invest in vaccine development and procure vaccines when they are available.
  • $2.2 billion to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including $1 billion for state and local response efforts, and $300 million for CDC's Infections Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund to prevent, prepare for, and respond to diseases.
  • $20 million to administer disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted.
  • $1.25 billion for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide.

For more information on the COVID-19, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov or call 800-CDC-INFO.

Congressman Roger Williams represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas and serves as a member of the House Committee on Financial Services.