Mucarsel-Powell Organizes Conference Calls To Update South Florida Officials On Congressional Response To COVID-19

Statement

Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) held tele-conferences with elected and public officials from Monroe and Miami-Dade County, as well as from all municipalities in Florida's 26th congressional district to provide an update on the congressional response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

"I am proud to have taken strong, proactive steps to mitigate the scope and impact of COVID-19 on children, families and local businesses, but federal action is not enough. I held today's teleconference calls because I recognize local elected and public officials' critical role in responding to this pandemic," said Mucarsel-Powell."The biggest concerns I hear about is the need for free, accessible COVID-19 testing, assistance for impacted businesses and part-time workers, and for consistent leadership. I continue to work to deliver all of those things for South Florida. We must all come together on the federal, state, and local level to confront this disease and return as quickly as possible to a new state of normal."

Mucarsel-Powell was joined by Dr. Aileen Marty, Florida International University Professor of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, and Victoria Guerrero, South Florida District Director for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) in briefing local officials on public health updates and the funding packages passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.

$8.3 billion Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations, signed into law by President Trump on March 6; and
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act passed by the House early March 14 by a strong bipartisan vote of 363 to 40. It is anticipated that the Senate will consider the bill this coming week, and send it to the president's desk for signature.
See photo and social media post on the conference call here.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act and the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020 strengthen our public health response, expand access to testing, provide relief to workers and families hit hard by the pandemic, and assists small businesses struggling with the fallout of COVID-19. Among other important provisions, these bills allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to South Florida small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, which are being administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The Congresswoman has been in contact with the Florida Governor's office to make sure they issue a declaration request and receive approval from SBA as described in theirguidelines.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act establishes:

Free testing for coronavirus: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act ensures that all individuals who need a test, including those with private insurance, traditional Medicare, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, CHIP, VA, FEHBP, and TRICARE, as well as the uninsured, will have access at no cost.
Economic security:
Paid emergency leave: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act provides two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave.
Enhanced unemployment insurance: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act gives states the resources and flexibility to provide unemployment benefits to laid off and furloughed workers, as well as to those workers who exhaust their allotted paid leave. This measure also provides additional funding to help the hardest-hit states immediately and in the future if conditions worsen.
Food security: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes more than $1 billion to provide food to low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children, help local food banks, and feed low-income seniors. It ensures that students who depend on schools and child care for free and reduce-priced meals continue to have access to nutritious foods during closures. And it provides women, infants, and children with the flexibility to access food and infant formula without having to make unnecessary or potentially unsafe visits to clinics.
Health security: The Families First Coronavirus Response Act increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which the federal government provides to state and territorial Medicaid programs. This will prevent states from cutting benefits, reducing their Medicaid rolls, or imposing greater costs on enrollees.
Full text of the bill and a summary can be found here.

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