I wanted to write to you directly about this.

Our South Florida community is facing an unprecedented challenge from the coronavirus. And as leaders, we are being called to fight harder than ever for you, the people we represent. Make no mistake: dealing with this crisis is my top priority.

So I wanted to update you personally about the work I have been doing in Washington, and how it will help South Florida.

In the House of Representatives, I have fought for, and we have passed:

• More than $2.2 billion to prevent, prepare and respond to coronavirus, including funding for state and local health systems in my district
• The Families First Act, which strengthens food security for families and ensures that anyone needs a test could get a test, free of charge
• The CARES Act, which makes an historic investment in hospitals, health systems and health research, and provided direct financial support to Americans and small businesses.
• The HEROES Act, including more relief to frontline workers and local governments. The Act also includes my bill requiring Medicare Advantage to cover the cost of testing and treatment for the coronavirus, which will cover over 84,000 people in my district alone.
• I also introduced legislation to bring foreign-trained doctors to the fight against coronavirus to reduce the strain on our hospitals.

I have also stayed active in South Florida, advocating for the needs of our community:

• I ensured drive-thru testing in the 26th District, opening the first drive-thru site in South Florida.
• I have been laser-focused on expanding access to healthcare and addressing the health disparities facing African American and Hispanic communities.
• I advocated to quickly move federal hospital aid to our area health systems such as Jackson Health, CHI, and other community health centers.
• My office worked with the Transportation Workers’ Union to provide PPE to public transit workers who were being exposed to COVID-19 on the job.
• I launched an effort to help area small and medium-sized businesses affected by the coronavirus.
• I have led demands on the USDA to direct assistance to Florida’s most vulnerable farmers impacted by the crisis.

And I’ve been working with federal, state, and local officials to coordinate our response:

• I have held regular meetings and calls with local mayors, county commissioners, and city officials throughout South Florida to monitor hotspots and connect local governments to federal resources.
• I meet regularly with South Florida infectious disease experts and local health officials to make sure our response is driven by science, not politics.
• I have called repeatedly and publically on the Governor to open additional testing sites in hard-to-reach communities, fix our broken unemployment system, and follow the advice of public health experts to keep our state safe. At a minimum, I believe the Governor should meet with the Florida Congressional delegation to synchronize our efforts.
• Make no mistake, our community will be tested in the weeks and months ahead. But I will continue to do anything, and work with anyone, to help us get through this together.

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell

P.S. for more information and to stay up to date, follow me on social media:

Paid for by Debbie for Congress