Cleaver Applauds House Passage of Supplemental Funding Legislation to Combat Coronavirus

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voted in favor of H.R. 6074, an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to fully address the coronavirus public health crisis. The emergency supplemental appropriations will provide $8.3 billion in entirely new funding to combat the coronavirus epidemic and keep Americans safe.

"It's good to see the United States Congress—so often gridlocked and unwilling to cross the aisle—work together to provide the resources needed for a strategic, coordinated, comprehensive, and effective response to the coronavirus in a timely manner," said Congressman Cleaver. "The funding we approved today, with overwhelming bipartisan support, will give our local, state, and federal agencies sufficient resources that are desperately needed to face the challenge at hand. The safety and security of the American people is our number one responsibility, and, while the crisis has not yet been averted, we're now much more capable of providing the type of response the public expects and deserves from their government."

The emergency supplemental funding will provide:

• More than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics;

• $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness, and response

• $950 million of which goes to support state and local health agencies;

• Nearly $1 billion for procurement of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, to support healthcare preparedness and Community Health Centers, and to improve medical surge capacity;

• $61 million to facilitate the development and review of medical countermeasures, devices, therapies, and vaccines, and to help mitigate potential supply chain interruptions;

• $1.25 billion to address the coronavirus abroad to help keep Americans safe here at home; and

• Allows for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest loans to affected small businesses, to help cushion the economic blow of this public health emergency.

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 415 to 2. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass the bill before the end of the week, where it will then go to the President's desk for signature.

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matthew Helfant at 202-225-4535 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.