Rep. Reed introduces $163B bill to fight COVID-19

U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) introduced a $163 billion bill to funds efforts to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

The Crush The Virus Act (H.R. 1371) provides $163 billion in funding to increase the distribution and administration of COVID-19 vaccines, boost access to COVID-19 testing throughout the nation, and support additional medical research into new emerging variants, among other measures.

“Since the start of this pandemic, we have worked in good-faith with colleagues in both parties to pass five bipartisan COVID-19 relief package and deliver trillions of dollars of desperately needed aid, much of which has helped New York’s working families, small businesses, and communities,” Reed said. “Instead of pushing partisan political wins and perpetuating bad policies, we should be coming together to focus federal funding on what matters most — protecting the lives and livelihoods of the American people. While more must be done, passing this type of targeted relief legislation would ensure we immediately address the public health needs of the country and accelerate the defeat of COVID-19.”

Reed offered this $163 billion bill as a standalone bill separate from the $1.9 billion stimulus package, which passed in the House that included relief checks for Americans.

Reed has supported the $900 billion relief package that passed in the U.S. House in December.