Roe Supports Emergency Supplemental Appropriations to Combat Coronavirus

Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act:

“As a physician, it is of the utmost importance to me that we keep Americans safe by ensuring our public health agencies and health facilities have the resources they need to combat coronavirus, also known as COVID-19. I was proud to vote for today’s bill to provide $7.8 billion in emergency funding. The money will be used to make more diagnostic kits readily available and to support investment in a vaccine. It will also go to help our government combat the virus at home and abroad. I understand how concerning this situation is, which is why I think it was critical to act quickly and decisively against this significant public health threat.”

Note: The emergency supplemental appropriates $7.8 billion towards the U.S. response to coronavirus. Included in that amount is $4.4 billion for diagnostic tests, research for vaccine development and other treatments. The CDC is also appropriated a total of $2.2 billion to help national, state and local response efforts. The funding also includes $20 million to help impacted small businesses, and $1.25 billion for the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) for international efforts to contain the virus.