WASHINGTON, DC – This afternoon, Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01) voted ‘Yes’ on HR 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. The bill passed on a vote of 415-2.

“Today’s vote was a bipartisan commitment to the protection and safety of the American people,” said Rep. Hern. “These funds are going directly to the coronavirus response efforts, to vaccine development and research, to help our local and state health departments handle the massive influx of requests, and to prevent the spread of the virus worldwide.”

Rep. Hern continued, “President Trump has taken this threat seriously from day 1. He appointed Vice President Pence, one of his most trusted and capable lieutenants, to lead the White House’s response and they delivered an effective and robust plan. I met with the Vice President shortly before the vote today and am very confident in his leadership on this issue.

“If you’re wondering why it’s taken so long for Congress to act on the coronavirus threat, the answer is simple: petty partisanship. It’s said oftentimes in DC to never let a crisis go to waste. That’s certainly what we’ve seen in our nation’s capital these last few weeks. While thousands around the globe contracted coronavirus and many lives were lost, your Congressional leaders were bickering and finger-pointing instead of setting aside any political differences or vendettas against the President to work swiftly to protect our citizens. I am glad that we were finally able to come together today to pass a clean bill with no poison pills, no surprises or partisan policy riders. Leader McCarthy is to be commended for standing up for the entire Republican conference, pushing back on Speaker Pelosi and Democrat leaders to put a bill on the floor that protects the American people.

“While I hope and pray that the worst of the coronavirus is behind us, today we ensured that we will be prepared to face whatever lies ahead,” Rep. Hern concluded.

Background Information:

The bill text can be found here.

What’s in the bill?

• $4 billion to make diagnostic tests more broadly available; to support treatments to ease the symptoms of those infected with the virus; and to invest in vaccine development and to procure vaccines when they are available. Funds are also made available for the Food and Drug Administration to protect the integrity of medical products manufactured overseas and identify and prevent potential shortages.

• $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for a robust response, including:
  •  Nearly $1 billion exclusively for state and local response efforts; and
  •  $300 million for CDC’s Infectious Diseases Rapid Response Reserve Fund to prevent, prepare for, and respond to diseases – keeping our nation prepared and positioned for any health threat.

• $20 million to administer disaster assistance loans for small businesses impacted by the virus.
• $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) to protect Americans abroad and prevent the spread of the virus worldwide, including:
  • $264 million to evacuate Americans and maintain consular operations overseas; and
  • $200 million for USAID’s Emergency Response Fund to prepare for and respond to emerging health threats – working to prevent the spread of illness and infection before it reaches U.S. soil.