Rep. Payne, Jr. Votes to Protect Americans from Coronavirus

Media Contact: Patrick Wright -- Patrick.Wright@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. — Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. voted for an $8.3 billion emergency supplemental appropriations bill today to fully fund medical efforts against the coronavirus and protect Americans from this public health crisis.

The bill (H.R. 6074) contains several provisions to help fight the disease, which has killed 11 Americans and infected more than 93,000 worldwide. It would provide more than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics as well as an additional $2.2 billion to fund national, state and local prevention, preparedness, and response efforts. It would allocate $1.25 billion to address the spread of the coronavirus abroad. Plus, it would make available almost $7 billion in low-interest loans to American small businesses to help cushion the economic blow of this growing medical emergency.

Rep. Payne, Jr. said the country needed the funding now before the virus affected even more Americans.

"The health and safety of our citizens is our top priority as public servants," said Congressman Payne, Jr. "Coronavirus is a national public health crisis that demands quick and effective action. It will become worse if we fail to act and I am proud of my House colleagues for showing true bipartisan leadership to pass this bill immediately. I hope the Senate and President pass it quickly. There is no price tag when it comes to saving American lives."

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