Press Releases

Washington, DC—March 4, 2020...Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) released the below statement following the passage of the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 6074). The emergency funding bill provides $7.8 billion to support coronavirus containment and response efforts, including programs to expedite vaccine development, purchase essential equipment and supplies, and assist state and local health departments:

Congressman Womack said, “This public health threat requires aggressive action on all fronts. Today’s emergency package will help combat COVID-19 and ensure the safety of the American people. It provides additional resources to expedite vaccine development, expand surveillance efforts, and enhance state and local government response programs. I will continue working with my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee, as well as the Trump Administration, to support emergency preparedness and response efforts to this virus.” 

Among other provisions, the bill includes:

• More than $4 billion to make diagnostic tests more broadly available, support treatments to ease the symptoms of those infected with the virus, invest in vaccine development, and procure vaccines when they are available.
• $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a robust response, including nearly $1 billion exclusively for state and local response efforts and $300 million for the CDC’s Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund to prevent, prepare for, and respond to diseases.
• $20 million to administer disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by the virus.
• $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide, including resources to evacuate Americans, maintain consular operations overseas, and work to prevent the spread of illness and infection before it reaches U.S. soil.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Congressman Womack has consistently advocated for strong public health and response initiatives, including increased funding for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Strategic National Stockpile of medications and other medical supplies. Additionally, he supported the creation of the Infectious Disease Rapid Response Reserve Fund, which has been critical to the initial coronavirus response. The reserve makes immediate emergency funds available to the CDC to prevent, prepare for, and respond to “an infectious disease emergency,” in the U.S. and abroad.

Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) has represented Arkansas’s Third Congressional District since 2011. He serves as the Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Budget and is a member of the House Appropriations defense and transportation, housing and urban development subcommittees.

womack.house.gov

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