West Calls for Boosting Medical Manufacturing, Support for Rural Schools, Increased Unemployment Benefits in Pandemic Response Proposal

Press Release

Senator Royce West (D-Dallas), unveiled his plans to help America be in a better position to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic and also be prepared for future pandemics.

West's comprehensive plan specifically calls for boosting medical manufacturing in the United States, increasing unemployment benefits nationwide, and providing support for rural students and schools to continue learning during pandemics.

"The government can and must do more than what we are seeing during the current crisis, and do more to prepare for the next time this happens--and it will happen," West said. "We need a better plan in place for testing and medical readiness; we do not want to be caught flat-footed again. We need stronger, more accountable leadership. We need to shelter families from health and economic hardship, ramp up our medical manufacturing capacity, and have better contingency plans and technical support in place for public school students and teachers."

Specifically, West said he wants to create federal tax credits to bring manufacturing of pharmaceuticals and medical device equipment back to the United States. "Tax policy will help encourage medical manufacturing companies to operate here. It's essential given lower operating costs abroad," West noted. "Let's bring medical manufacturing back to this country and increase job growth; let us help Texas' rural and economically distressed communities".

West also called for federal aid for states, earmarked for helping public schools, junior colleges, and colleges; it should also provide students in rural areas with internet access through hotspots. He wants students, in need, to have access to digital devices that will allow them to continue their education during the pandemic.

"You cannot have high school students trying to do homework on a small cell phone because that is the only way they can get a signal in a rural area. This is currently happening because parents cannot afford satellite internet, or broadband is not available," West noted. "Hotspots, laptops and tablets are an unplanned, unanticipated purchase for most rural schools right now. The federal government must step in and offset these costs."

Finally, West said the federal government must increase unemployment benefits for Americans who lose their jobs. West proposed raising the federal minimum payment to 75 percent of a person's full wages, for those earning under $75,000 per year, for a period not to exceed 26 weeks.

"High unemployment, in some industry sectors, such as oil and gas is already causing severe economic turmoil because so many Americans are out of work, or are taking pay cuts. We have to lessen the burden on our working families," West said.

Senator West's Plan To Boost Manufacturing, Improve American Infrastructure, and Create Jobs to Cope with COVID-19 and the Future

The COVID-19 Pandemic has clearly illustrated America's need to boost manufacturing at home, improve American infrastructure, create American jobs, and more--all to make our nation more secure at home and a more competitive economic force in the world. A comprehensive plan is necessary to help move America's economy in the right direction.

Boosting Manufacturing In Key Sectors

The COVID-19 Pandemic has shown that Americans can no longer depend on foreign-manufactured medical devices, drugs, or equipment. We must begin manufacturing these products at home. The health of our people and our national security depend on strong medical manufacturing in the United States.

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will propose tax incentives for companies that bring medical manufacturing to the United States in the areas of medical devices and equipment, over-the-counter and prescription medications, and personal protective equipment. These businesses would be required to meet employment goals, refrain from outsourcing jobs to other countries, and avoid use of offshore tax havens. We must also create tax incentives for private investment.

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will introduce legislation to promote federal grants and federal dollars being appropriated to states to distribute to local governments to promote economic development by attracting medical and pharmaceutical manufacturing with set-asides for a certain amount of the money to go to rural areas, economically depressed areas, etc.

RESTORE AND REINFORCE LOCAL CONTROL

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author clear legislation to outline federal and local responsibilities during pandemics, with emphasis on federal dollars and strong federal coordination and guidance based on science, while allowing local governments to retain reasonable control over pandemic responses based on the facts on the ground where they are.

MEDICAL DEVICE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMMUNITIES

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author legislation creating the National Medical Device Bank through FEMA. This legislation will create and provide federal funding for a national bank of ventilators, respirators, oxygen tanks, and other critical-needs equipment. This legislation will also have an automatic trigger, opening the national medical device bank in the event of natural disasters or the declaration of the World Health Organization declaring a particular disease, such as COVID-19, a pandemic.

STRENGTHENING RESEARCH TO IMPROVE OUR PANDEMIC RESPONSE

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author legislation to create a $10 billion dollar fund for medical research, through American public universities exclusively related to pandemic-type diseases in the SARS and Coronavirus classifications. This legislation will restrict any vaccine, drugs, or treatment protocols developed with this federal money to being distributed as close to "at cost" as feasible, or with any minor profits going back to fund more research grants. This will lower the cost for life-saving medical treatment and vaccines developed as we prepare to face further global pandemics.

NATIONAL SECURITY RELATED TO PANDEMICS

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author legislation strengthening Public Law No: 116-22, the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019 by creating an inspector general position with authority to review all federal government pandemic response efforts.

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will introduce legislation providing National Guard and active military called up for pandemic response "Hostile Fire Pay."

IMPROVING INFRASTRUCTURE TO FACILITATE STAY AT HOME WORK FROM HOME EDUCATE FROM HOME

+ Senator West supports immediate financial appropriation for emergency infrastructure dollars for rural America to increase broadband and 5G capabilities.

+ Senator West supports immediate appropriations dollars to rural schools to provide mobile devices and hot-spots for children in rural areas. Senator West proposes similar programs for colleges, and junior and community colleges, with emphasis on HBCUs to get laptops and hot spots into the hands of rural and impoverished students, in data deserts

IMPROVING HEALTHCARE FOR EVERY AMERICAN

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author legislation creating an automatic enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act triggered within 14-days of the World Health Organization declaring a state of global pandemic.

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author legislation creating a Rural Hospital Poverty Medical Care Pool. This will provide money to rural hospitals so they can write of the expenses of those in poverty and on the edge of poverty with no other insurance or government assistance.

LONG TERM, STRUCTURAL GOVERNMENT CHANGES TO MAKE LIFE BETTER NOW AND IN THE FUTURE

+ As our U.S. Senator, Senator West will author legislation to raise unemployment benefits at the federal level to cover 75 percent of a person's salary, for persons making up to $75,000 per year, for 26 weeks of benefits.

Source