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Pelosi Statement on Senate Passage of House’s Families First Coronavirus Response Act

March 18, 2020

Contact: Speaker's Press Office,
202-226-7616

San Francisco – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement on the Senate passage of the House's Families First Coronavirus Response Act:
"Today, the Senate has joined the House to pass our Families First Coronavirus Response Act: strong, bipartisan legislation that protects the health, economic security and well-being of the American people while stimulating the economy.
"Our Families First legislation takes smart, science-based measures to put Families First:
for families' health security: ensuring free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured. Our legislation also increases funding for Medicaid to support local, state, tribal and territorial health systems, so that they have the resources needed to combat this public health emergency.
for families' economic security: providing two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of family and medical leave for eligible workers and enhancing Unemployment Insurance. It also supports small businesses by fully reimbursing them for providing leave.
for families' food security: strengthening nutrition initiatives including SNAP, student meals, seniors' meals and food banks.
"The House and Senate are already hard at work on the third bill in the House's Families First agenda, which will take bold, historic action on behalf of America's workers and families. This bill will be crafted in consultation with the public health, labor, non-profit and business communities, so that we can deliver the most effective, evidence-based response.
"As we do so, we should go forward with a focus on developing a cure. Science has given us reason to be hopeful, and the best minds in America are hard at work.
"Time is of the essence, and the House will move swiftly to protect public health and provide relief for the American people."
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