FirstName/Friend --

Last week, the Senate reached a bipartisan agreement on a $2 trillion relief package, the largest in American history, and passed it with a unanimous vote of 96-0. I was proud how, in the end, the bill had such broad bipartisan support and President Trump signed it so quickly.

I want to keep you updated on a few of the crucial aspects that my colleagues and I fought to include in this deal that may pertain to you and your loved ones:

• Hundreds of billions of dollars in direct assistance for hospitals, community health centers, and health care institutions preparing for a surge of patients
• Essential personal protective tools and resources for health care workers, police officers, National Guard members, scientists, and more
• Significant new resources for food assistance programs, including child nutrition programs, SNAP, and senior meals
• Resources for the homeless, who without a clean, safe place to go are at a much higher risk of contracting the coronavirus and spreading it in their communities
• Support for rural businesses, hospitals, and broadband access
• Provisions for child care, especially for first responders, medical providers, and those on the front lines
• Direct funding to back research in therapeutics, vaccines, and treatments
• Billions of dollars for state and local governments to support the services they're providing their communities

This relief bill will touch every single American, just as this crisis has. It was important that this legislation helped individuals as well as providing support to small and large businesses.

People across this country are making sacrifices to keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe. Marcelle and I want to send our profound thanks to everyone on the front lines -- especially to our health care providers and first responders. Postal workers, grocery clerks, government workers, and many others are also playing such important roles in the face of great adversity. I'm proud that Congress expressed our gratitude for your sacrifice in more than just words.

The need to support each other through this challenging time remains. If you are able, this is an important time to support your local food banks and relief funds.

For those of you in Vermont, these groups can use your support:

• Help vulnerable Vermonters by making a contribution to the Vermont Foodbank.
• Donate to the Vermont Community Foundation's VT COVID-19 Response Fund which provides support for local non-profits who are deploying emergency assistance in communities across Vermont.
• And the most important thing you can keep doing as the country weathers this pandemic is to stay home and follow the CDC's continually updated guidelines. When you do go out for an essential reason, please practice social distancing and always remember to frequently wash your hands.

Together, we will get through this. I continue to keep you and your family in my thoughts.

Sincerely,

Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator