April 9, 2020

Dear John,

Last week Congress passed the CARES Act; the third COVID-19 Stimulus package aimed at supporting our nation’s hospitals, first responders, schools, and American families in the wake of stay-at-home orders and shutdowns issued by state governors. Because the CARES Act is a big bill and is very detailed, we’ve highlighted some sections for you that directly focus on small business, taxes, loan forgiveness, and unemployment insurance.

You can read the entire bill here.

1. Hospitals

o   $100 billion for hospitals and healthcare providers.

o   $27 billion for research into better treatments methods and the purchase of medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE).

o   $4.3 billion for CDC public health response efforts.

o   $1 billion for NIH research into an effective vaccine.

o   Expands the use of Telehealth medicine to surge capacity.

o   Ensures that all testing for COVID-19 is covered with zero out of pocket cost.

1. Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act is included

o   Provides permanent eligibility for PREP Act liability protections for manufactures of NIOSH-certified respiratory protective equipment. 

o   Applies to entities and individuals involved in the development, manufacturing, testing, distribution, administration, and use of medical countermeasures described in an emergency declaration.

1. Child Care and Development Block Grant:

o   Distributes $3.5 billion in grants to childcare providers in states that need immediate assistance to prevent them from going out of business.

o   Supports childcare for families, including for healthcare workers, first responders, and others playing critical roles during this crisis.

4.     Free and reduced school lunches

o   Nebraska (+Omaha Nation, Santee Sioux, Winnebago) has been granted a WIC physical presence waiver through May 31, 2020:  The approval to waive the physical presence requirement includes the ability to defer anthropometric and bloodwork requirements necessary to determine nutritional risk for the period the physical presence waiver is in effect.

o   Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act (provides breakfast and lunch for eligible children through the schools):

-  States with an approved waiver can distribute the meals to parents or guardians to take home to the children, instead of adhering to the program requirement of direct distribution to the children.

-  Program operators must ensure that it is the parent or guardian picking up the meals, and that a child does not receive duplicate meals.

-  This waiver is effective immediately and remains in effect until June 30, 2020, or until expiration of the federally declared public health emergency, whichever is earlier.

Nebraska has received a waiver to provide WIC remote benefit issuance through May 31, 2020:

For more information on FNS COVID response please click here.

These are just a few of the many initiatives within the CARES Act that are aimed at helping American’s health care professionals, first responders, school districts, and families. For additional resources, information, and recordings of our tele-town halls regarding the coronavirus, please visit my coronavirus webpage. 

You can also sign up for me semi-weekly newsletter, the Bacon Brief. 

As always, I will continue to work with the Nebraska delegation and all members of Congress to ensure the protection and safety of our community and state.

Take care,

Don Bacon
Member of Congress