Testing and Contact Tracing for a Safer Reopening

The coronavirus pandemic has challenged nearly every aspect of our lives and economy, and we all want to get back to our lives and work as quickly as possible. But the nation’s leading health experts have warned that if we reopen without a plan to contain this virus -- including widespread testing and contact tracing, which is key to understanding the full scope of the disease, who is sick, and who has been exposed -- we will very likely spark a second wave that will cost thousands more lives.

Contact tracing is a process to make sure anyone who has been exposed to someone with the virus is told about it right away so they don’t risk spreading it to their friends, families, and coworkers if they have it too.  Jeff is a fierce proponent of privacy -- in fact he was one of only 19 senators who recently voted against a surveillance bill because he thought it gave the government too much power to track Americans.  That’s why Jeff’s bill for a big federal investment in contact tracing makes sure the actual work is done by local health officials, who have experience running these kinds of programs.  He’s also pushing to make sure technologies voluntarily used to assess Americans’ health also protect our data and privacy. Last month, Jeff participated in a panel discussion hosted by NowThis Politics to talk about the urgency of investing in contact tracing while protecting personal privacy. You can watch that panel discussion here.

Supporting Our Seniors During the Pandemic

One of the hardest parts of the coronavirus crisis is the distance the virus is forcing between family, friends, and loved ones -- especially the most vulnerable among us in long-term care facilities. So last month, Jeff sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging the agency to provide these facilities with the information they need to eventually reopen their doors to visitors safely and responsibly, to continue protecting their residents while reuniting communities.

“Fact and evidence-based guidance from CDC that prioritizes safety, and provides measurable benchmarks, realistic timelines, and clear direction to visitors would provide residents and families with a measure of much-needed clarity that they currently lack,” Jeff wrote to the CDC. Jeff will keep pushing for action that will keep our loved ones in long-term care safe, while easing the isolation that so many have suffered from in recent months.

Health Resources for Every Corner of Our State

Every Oregonian -- regardless of the color of their skin, their zip code, or their income -- deserves access to a coronavirus test and treatment should they need them. That’s why Jeff has been fighting for the resources Oregon’s rural hospitals and health care providers need to put testing and care within reach.

“The high-quality treatment and care that Oregon’s rural clinics and dedicated health care professionals provide to families across our state are more invaluable than ever as we continue to grapple with this public health emergency,” Jeff said as he announced that $5 million will be distributed to 102 rural health clinics across Oregon to increase testing capacity. “It’s our responsibility to make sure these heroes have the resources and support they need to stay safe and do their jobs.”

Supporting Oregon’s Small Businesses

Last month, Jeff teamed up with his colleagues Senators Chris Van Hollen and Chris Murphy to write a new proposal -- the Rebuilding Main Street Act -- to help small businesses, nonprofits, and workers weather the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Their plan would expand an existing work share program to allow employers to share their payroll costs with the federal government, and also provide grant funding to help cover other fixed costs, like rent, and cleaning and protective equipment as they prepare to re-open.

“Throughout this pandemic, I’ve been in frequent touch with small business owners and workers in every corner of Oregon, and what I’ve heard time and time again is the need for flexibility and financial support as they work to re-open their business,” Jeff said. “Any effort to rebuild our economy must happen from Main Street up, not Wall Street down.”

You can learn more about Jeff’s efforts to support, and resources, for Oregon’s small businesses here.

Creating Safe Havens During the Pandemic

Heartbreakingly, the pandemic is making the existing crisis of domestic violence even worse, as Americans spend more time at home and many shelters have closed or modified operations to avoid the spread of the virus. And for those Americans who have pets, the difficulty of finding a shelter that accepts animals often makes it even harder for victims to get to safety.

It’s unacceptable that any person should have to choose between their own safety and abandoning a beloved pet. So last month, Jeff stood with survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking, and dating violence and their pets by pushing for the inclusion of the Pet and Women Safety (PAWS) Act in the next coronavirus relief legislation -- which would help put safe havens within reach by providing additional funding to shelters and housing assistance programs that accept pets. In addition, the legislation would expand existing federal domestic violence protections to include threats or violence against a survivor’s pet. 

Thank you! 

Thank you for reading -- and don't forget, you can see the latest updates by liking Jeff on Facebook and following Jeff on Twitter. And be sure to check Merkley.senate.gov for more information on upcoming town halls and current events.