Visclosky May 20 Update on COVID-19

Statement

Below is an update on efforts being taken to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

On May 15, 2020, I supported and the House approved H.R. 6800, The Heroes Act, by a vote of 208 to 199. This measure includes the following provisions designed to assist American individuals, small businesses, and health-care professionals and other essential workers during this pandemic:

* Giving hazard pay to our heroes -- Establishes a Heroes Fund to provide health-care workers, grocery workers, and other essential workers with $13 per hour in additional pay during the pandemic, with an individual cap of $10,000 in enhanced funding for each worker.

* Sending direct payments to Americans -- Provides Americans with another payment of up to $1,200 of immediate assistance per individual.

* Ensuring safety in the workplace -- Requires the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue regulations mandating that employers implement plans to protect their employees from exposure to COVID-19, as well as prohibits employers from retaliating against employees who report COVID-19 workplace hazards or that bring their own personal protective equipment to use from home.

* Fighting for affordable health care -- Authorizes a two-month special enrollment period to offer the uninsured an additional opportunity to sign up for a health-insurance plan on the federal marketplace, mandates that all private health-insurance plans cover treatment of COVID-19 with no cost-sharing, and provides for federal coverage of all COBRA premiums during the pandemic.

* Reinforcing our nation's health-care system -- Provides $100 billion to reimburse hospitals and health-care providers for expenses and lost revenue resulting from the pandemic, as well as $75 billion to improve our nation's capacity to test, trace, and reduce cases of COVID-19.

* Working to find a cure -- Includes $9.32 billion for federal research on COVID-19 and the development and manufacture of eventual therapeutics and vaccines.

* Bringing relief to states, communities, and businesses -- Provides $500 billion in relief funding for states, $375 billion in relief funding for local governments, and $10 billion in additional grants for small businesses.

* Supporting our educators and students -- Allocates $100.15 billion to support the continued operation of K-12 schools, colleges, and universities, extends the deferral of payments and interest on federally-held student loans through September 30, 2021, and provides up to $10,000 in debt relief to borrowers of federal and private student loans that are in default, serious delinquency, forbearance, deferment, or that pay $0 in monthly payments.

* Improving unemployment and paid leave benefits -- Extends enhanced unemployment benefits authorized by Congress through January 31, 2021, and enhanced paid leave benefits to employees through the end of 2021.

* Preventing hunger in our communities -- Increases the benefit level of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program by 15 percent and provides $150 million to local food banks in order to meet increased demand.

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