Representative Angie Craig Helps Advances Major Piece of COVID-19 Relief Package to Accelerate Vaccine Development, Protect Public Health

Press Release

Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and her colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced a crucial portion of the upcoming COVID relief legislation which would provide billions of dollars in funding for vaccine distribution and other public health measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. The package also included additional funds to support mental health programs and resources to ease challenges associated with distance learning for students and teachers unable to return to the classroom. At the markup, Craig encouraged her colleagues to support the measure by arguing that, without an increased supply of vaccines, it would take roughly four months to vaccinate everyone over the age of 65 in Minnesota.

Also during the markup, Representative Craig spoke in favor of advancing the reconciliation package, reminding her colleagues that an overwhelming majority of Americans support a broad economic recovery package to protect public health and deliver relief to struggling families.

"Mr. Chairman, what Americans are most tired of in Washington is gridlock on bills where there is bipartisan support in our communities," said Representative Craig. "People are dying. Small businesses are struggling. Our children are losing precious time in their classroom. So, we are ending that gridlock today. Our constituents and our country cannot afford to wait."

A full video of Representative Craig's remarks is available here or by clicking the image above.

Among other provisions, the package advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee includes:

$46 billion to Health and Human Services (HHS) to detect, diagnose, trace, and monitor COVID-19 infections, and for other activities necessary to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
$7.6 billion to HHS for efforts related to establishing, expanding and sustaining a public health workforce -- including at state, local and territorial public health departments.
$7.6 billion in support of Community Health Centers' efforts to conduct COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, surveillance, mitigation, and treatment.
$7.6 billion for the establishment of an Emergency Connectivity Fund to support schools and libraries providing connected devices, internet service and hotspots to students and teachers for internet use at home.
$7.5 billion in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to prepare, promote, administer, monitor, and track COVID-19 vaccinations.
$6 billion in funding for tribal health programs.
$3.5 billion for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment and Community Mental Health block grant programs administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Provisions requiring mandatory coverage of COVID-19 vaccines administration and treatment by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program.

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