Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a $3 trillion aid package that would provide relief for Americans, fund COVID-19 testing, and bolster state and local health infrastructure and funding, among other initiatives.
The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (HR 6800) would provide another round of $1,200 stimulus funding for every adult and up to $6,000 per family. It would also extend the additional $600 per week unemployment benefits through January 2021. In addition, it would establish a national testing, contact tracing, and surveillance strategy, provide support for front line health care providers, expand affordable health coverage, enhance vaccine manufacturing and distribution capacity, invest in public health infrastructure, and provide new protections to keep nursing home patients safe.
“The Heroes Act continues our ongoing commitment to providing the health care resources and support needed to combat the coronavirus crisis,” Energy and Commerce Chairman Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) and Education and Labor Chairman Robert Scott (D-VA), said in a joint statement. “This legislation requires the Administration to finally develop comprehensive plans for robust testing and contact tracing and provides the funding necessary to implement it. Our legislation ensures that everyone has access to health care coverage and can seek treatment for COVID-19 without any out-of-pocket costs.”
Specifically, it would enhance vaccine manufacturing capacity and require a plan to distribute and administer COVID-19 vaccines. Also, it would strengthen reporting requirements for device and drug manufacturers to help respond to critical supply shortages and make improvements to management of the Strategic National Stockpile. The following is a breakout of other aspects of the bill, provided by the House Appropriations Committee.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – $2.1 billion to support federal, state, and local public health agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to the coronavirus, including $2 billion for state, local, territorial, and tribal public health departments; and $130 million for public health data surveillance and analytics infrastructure modernization.
National Institutes of Health – $4.745 billion to expand COVID-19-related research on the NIH campus and at academic institutions across the country and to support the shutdown and startup costs of biomedical research laboratories nationwide.
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response – $4.575 billion to respond to coronavirus, including $3.5 billion for Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) for therapeutics and vaccines; $500 million for BARDA to support U.S.-based next-generation manufacturing facilities; $500 million for BARDA to promote innovation in antibacterial research and development; and $75 million for the Office of Inspector General.
Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund – $175 billion to reimburse for healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue attributable to the coronavirus, as well as to support testing and contact tracing to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19, including $100 billion in grants for hospital and health care providers to be reimbursed healthcare-related expenses or lost revenue directly attributable to the public health emergency resulting from coronavirus; and $75 billion for testing, contact tracing, and other activities necessary to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19.