Rep.Ted Deutch {photo by Sharon Aron Baron}
By: Sharon Aron Baron
Rep. Ted Deutch has announced the U.S. House of Representatives has passed legislation to assist Americans facing the coronavirus pandemic.
In a press release, Deutch said the House passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201) on Saturday with an overwhelming bipartisan majority. The bill will make it easier for all Americans to do what it takes to work together to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Free testing for coronavirus: All individuals who need a test, including those with private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, VA, FEHBP, and TRICARE, as well as the uninsured, will have access at no cost.
Paid emergency leave: The bill provides two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of job-protected leave to allow workers to follow quarantine recommendations and care for their family members impacted by the virus.
Enhanced unemployment insurance: It extends emergency unemployment insurance to help cover workers who are furloughed or quarantined due to an outbreak in their workplaces
Food security: It expands food assistance through the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program, food banks, Meals on Wheels, SNAP, and provides electronic benefit transfer amounts to families who would usually receive free and reduced-price meals at school
Health security: It invests additional federal funding into Medicaid to give states the option to expand Medicaid coverage for COVID-19 testing.
Deutch, who represents Coral Springs and Parkland, wrote that these policies are targeted directly to the struggles that American families will be facing as they continue to make changes to their daily lives to help slow the spread of coronavirus. They are the product of bipartisan negotiations that put the American people first. It is only through bipartisan cooperation that we will be able to meet the challenges in the coming days.
COVID-19 Public Website and Call Center
Please visit the Florida Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 webpage for information and guidance regarding COVID-19 in Florida.
For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the DOH’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 1-(866) 779-6121. The Call Center is available 24 hours a day. Inquiries may also be emailed to COVID-19@flhealth.gov.
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