To my fellow constituents,
It has been nearly six months since the coronavirus has hit our nation and drastically changed our way of life. I want to reassure you that I have been working hard to pass legislation that helps Nebraskans during this pandemic.
In 2005, the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act added legal authorities to the Public Health Service (PHS) Act to provide federal liability immunity to items the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) identifies as necessary for public health emergencies. Currently, only FDA-approved items are eligible for this coverage, but National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-certified respirators are not FDA approved. Yet, in nearly every public health emergency with an airborne hazard, the CDC urges the use of these respirators in order to protect our medical professionals, first responders, and frontline workers.
In response to this, I joined Congressmen Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Jim Langevin (RI-02) in November of 2019, to introduce H.R. 4982, the Health Care Workforce Protection Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation to aid national bio-preparedness by adding NIOSH-certified respiratory protection devices to the PREP Act to improve the public health emergency response and to ensure that respirator manufacturers and distributors are not penalized for heeding the nation’s call in the event of these emergencies, and to ensure these devices are readily available. Thankfully, the entire language from H.R. 4982 was included in the CARES Act.
In December of 2019, before the pandemic made its way into the U.S., I participated in a House Armed Services Committee hearing to discuss our health care reform as well as military efficiency and readiness. I raised the issue of infectious diseases and the need to prepare our armed forces, first responders, and citizens in the wake of a pandemic. We learned this lesson over 100 years ago, and I have been pushing legislation for several years. Watch my full exchange with Brigadier General Friedrichs here.
In May of 2020, I joined 10 of my House colleagues to introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at helping local governments utilize funding already allocated under the three previously bipartisan legislation packages. H.R. 6652, the Flexibility for Localities and Eligibility Expansion (FLEX) Act of 2020 amends current language to allow additional flexibility for state and local governments to access previously approved federal relief funds to offset lost revenue due to the health emergency from COVID-19. The current guidance prohibits the use of COVID-19 relief funds to offset lost revenues, thereby hurting America’s cities during this crisis.
The coronavirus pandemic has also negatively impacted many foster youths, especially those aging out of the system. I joined my House colleagues to introduce H.R. 6848, the Pandemic Protection for Transition-Age Foster Youth Act to help current and former foster youth with housing, tuition, and living and education programs. As a foster-to-adopt parent, I know first-hand the many challenges our foster children face, and I’m committed to providing them assistance and being an advocate. All of this legislation has been vital in providing relief and assistance to the American people; however, we also need to look to the future and provide actual bipartisan solutions to help America get back on track.
Last month, I joined my Problem Solvers Caucus colleagues, 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats, to unveil the “March to Common Ground” framework to break the gridlock on the latest COVID relief package and push for negotiations for a compromise. It is my hope that we extend a hand and work across the aisle on behalf of the American people.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, House GOP colleagues, and I also introduced our Commitment to America to restore our way of life, rebuild the greatest economy in history, and renew the American Dream. Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to pull together and unify as Nebraskans, Americans, and neighbors to tackle this situation head on.
President Trump and his Administration are also fulfilling their promise to develop the world’s leading testing system by completing over 100 million tests. Starting in October, our testing capacity will be up to 3 million tests per day. Compared to any other country in the world, the Administration has already deployed nearly 14,000 rapid point-of-care instruments and over 4.9 million rapid point-of-care tests to nearly 14,000 CLIA-certified nursing homes throughout the country.
Lastly, the Administration is committed to equipping states with maximum flexibility so governors and state health officials can allocate tests to where they are needed most. So far, the Trump Administration has distributed thousands of rapid point-of-care COVID-19 tests to the following groups and communities:
- 2.2 million to nursing homes
- 968,000 to assisted living centers
- 300,000 to American Indian tribes
- 249,000 to HBCUs
- 65,000 to wildfire and hurricane disaster relief areas
I am confident in America’s scientists and physicians. We have the best research and innovation to develop a safe and effective vaccine for every American. Our country is strong and resilient, and we will bounce back from this pandemic, becoming stronger than ever before.
My office has a webpage strictly dedicated to providing a list of federal resources and information regarding the coronavirus. You can view it here.
If you have any other questions or concerns, please call my office at (402) 938-0300 or visit my Congressional website at https://bacon.house.gov.
Sincerely,
Don
