October 3, 2020
Dear Friends,
Secretary of Health and Human Services, Alex Azar, said, “Every death we experience is a tragedy.”
When he said it, the United States had just hit the grim milestone of 100,000 souls lost from the COVID-19 pandemic. That was mid-May, around the same time Democrats advanced the original Heroes Act in the House. In the months that followed, 120,000 more Americans have died.
We are reaching a breaking point. Many local leaders across our Capital Region have warned that, without a federal rescue, we will face a steep loss in services including from our dedicated first responders. This is unacceptable. Senate Republicans need to set aside partisan politics and join us to pass a comprehensive rescue package that will sustain our nation and the American people through the next phase of this pandemic.
On Thursday night, after months waiting for Senate Republicans to meet us at the negotiating table, the House advanced an updated Heroes Act, $2.2 trillion legislation that protects lives, livelihoods and the foundations of our republic. Led by my friend and fellow New Yorker Congresswoman Nita Lowey, this updated legislation includes:
- Strong support for small businesses with improvements to the Paycheck Protection Program, providing hard-hit businesses with second loans, and delivering targeted assistance for the struggling restaurant industry.
- Additional assistance for airline industry workers, extending the highly successful Payroll Support Program to keep airline industry workers paid.
- Funds to strengthen education and child care, with $225 billion for safe schools—including $182 billion for K-12 schools and nearly $39 billion for postsecondary education—and $57 billion to support child care for families.
In addition, our updated bill maintains key priorities from the legislation that we passed in May. These provisions support our heroes by providing $436 to state and local governments who need these funds to keep employing the very first responders and health workers who have kept us safe and are now in danger of losing their jobs. They also deliver $75 billion to support COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment that will help us finally turn the corner on this crisis, deliver a second round of $1,200 stimulus checks, restore the unemployment lifeline, strengthen food security for millions of Americans, and much, much more.
Many provisions I authored remain in our updated Heroes Act, including:
- The COVID-19 Mental Health Research Act, legislation that would provide $200 million to fund research to study the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the mental health of Americans, and in particular, front line health care providers.
- The Medicaid Reentry Act, legislation that allows states to activate Medicaid coverage for individuals transitioning out of incarceration 30 days prior to release, which will help to finance care for COVID-related early releases while improving transitions to community care for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorder.
- A long overdue fix to the broken Medicare Wage Index formula that unfairly shortchanges Capital Region hospitals and providers when receiving federal reimbursement for covered services. This vital provision would result in $100 million more in federal funds coming to our region every single year, helping our local hospitals and services providers better support patients and our communities.
Our updated Heroes Act is a timely bill that responds to this crisis and meets the needs of the American people.
No more excuses. We moved quickly to pass the CARES Act in Mach, including emergency funds for America’s hospitals and staff, small business owners, laid off workers and everyday Americans facing unprecedented fear and uncertainty. The CARES Act was a rescue plan. It wasn’t perfect, but it was America’s first real effort to stem the tide. We have learned important lessons since then, reflected in our latest rescue bill. But until the Senate gets its act together, the job isn’t done and people are still suffering and in desperate need.
We came together for our nation before, and we must do so again. I’m urging the Senate to meet us halfway. Pass our updated rescue plan. For the families, workers and communities depending on us, we must rise to the occasion. Division and delay are no longer an option.
Because Secretary Azar is right. Every death is a tragedy. We must not fail.
As always, thank you for reading.
Your friend,
DID YOU KNOW?
Throughout this pandemic, my office and I have worked to make sure you remain informed with the latest updates and recommendations on any and all COVID-19 related topics. With that in mind here is some information that may be of interest to you:
- As of October 1, 2020, the official New York Exposure Notification System app —COVID Alert NY—is available for users 18+
- Created by the New York State Department of Health in partnership with Google and Apple, the app is free.
- After downloading the COVID Alert NY app, you will be able to use your phone in the fight against COVID-19 and get exposure alerts, without compromising your privacy or personal information.
- COVID Alert NY alerts users if they have come into close contact—within 6 feet for at least 10 minutes—with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19.
- Knowing about a potential exposure allows you to self-quarantine immediately, get tested, and reduce the potential exposure risk to your family, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others.
- The app does not track your location or movement, use GPS, location services, or any movement or geographical information.
- The app will never collect, transmit, or store your personal information and is completely anonymous.
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