Palazzo Issues Statement on Coronavirus Funding

Press Release

Congressman Steven Palazzo (MS-4) issued the following statement after voting to pass an emergency supplemental appropriations bill aimed at the United States' response efforts to the coronavirus:

"The United States must be adequately prepared to respond to further spread of the coronavirus. This funding provides strong support to procure resources for our local public health authorities who are our frontline responders. While there are no confirmed cases in the state of Mississippi, we want to make sure we are proactively planning and prepared for all scenarios."

Bill Details
The bill includes $4 billion to make diagnostics tests more broadly available; support treatments to ease the symptoms of those infected with the virus; and to invest in vaccine development and procurement once vaccines are made available.

Additionally, the bill provides $2.2 billion for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. One billion dollars included in the $2.2 billion is exclusively for state and local response efforts. Three hundred million dollars have been allocated for CDC's Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund.

$20 million to administer disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by the virus.

$1.25 billion for the State Department and USAID to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide. This includes $264 million to evacuate Americans and maintain consular operations overseas and $200 million for USAID's Emergency Response Fund.

Source