03.14.20

Chairman Scott Statement on the Passage of Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WASHINGTON – Chairman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the House passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201)—a legislative package to address the severe impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Americans’ health and financial security.

“The spread of COVID-19 will present increasingly severe challenges for students, workers, and families across the country. We will not overcome these challenges by ignoring them. We will overcome them by delivering a bold, comprehensive response that provides communities the support they need during this public health crisis.

“Tonight, the House took an important step toward preparing the American people for the weeks and months ahead. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act ensures universal access to no-cost COVID-19 testing, provides workers emergency paid sick leave and extended family and medical leave so they are not forced to choose between their paycheck, their health, and the health of others, and it gives states and schools the flexibility they need to get food into the hands of students during school closures.

“Our communities need immediate and comprehensive support. I call on my Senate colleagues to recognize the urgency of this moment and put this bill on the president’s desk.” 

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The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes a series of bills introduced by Committee Democrats, including: 

School Meals

COVID–19 Child Nutrition Response Act (introduced by Rep. Bonamici, Rep. Comer), a bipartisan bill to ensure schools can provide students with nutritious food in case of school closures. 

Maintaining Essential Access to Lunch for Students (MEALS) Act (introduced by Rep. Omar), waves the existing requirement that prevents the Department of Agriculture from approving state waiver requests that result in increased costs to the federal government. 

Pandemic EBT Act (introduced by Rep. Scott, Rep. Fudge), creates an emergency anti-hunger program to provide additional food assistance to families during a pandemic.  

Affordable Testing

No Cost for COVID-19 Testing Act (introduced by Rep. Wilson, Rep. Schrier, Rep. DelBene, Rep. DeGette), requires all health insurance plans to cover the full cost of testing.

Paid Leave

Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act (introduced by Rep. Scott, Rep. Adams, Rep. Takano, Rep. Lee), significantly expands the numbers of workers who have access to job-protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

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