Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. NEAL. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this important legislative package to protect Americans' health and financial security as our Nation confronts the coronavirus crisis.

I want to highlight quickly three policies that the Ways and Means Committee contributed to the measure before us this evening.

First, we are ensuring that the coronavirus testing is provided free of charge. It is imperative that anyone who needs to be tested for coronavirus is able to afford that testing. If individuals worry that they can't afford the cost of the test, they will forgo it and risk endangering themselves and their community.

To provide Americans with the necessary confidence they need to seek testing, we have included a provision that ensures free coronavirus testing in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP, as well as for people enrolled in private insurance, the uninsured, Tribal communities receiving care outside of Indian health facilities, and our military families.

Second, we are making a historic emergency commitment to paid leave for the American family members affected by coronavirus. One of our top priorities was to get Americans affected by coronavirus emergency paid leave so that they can pay their bills. After intense negotiation with Treasury, we have agreed that this is an emergency.

We will require employers to provide the leave and reimburse them for the full cost via tax credits. Affected self-employed workers would be eligible for refundable tax credits.

In the long run, we need a comprehensive paid leave program like the one in the FAMILY Act. If we had that now, we would be in a far better place with options available to us as workers confront these challenges.

Finally, we are implementing measures to stabilize the unemployment insurance system and make sure that workers can access their earned benefits. These provisions will immediately help States deal with spikes in unemployment and prepare them for any future local or national recessions.

These provisions give States necessary flexibility to provide unemployment insurance to coronavirus-affected individuals without delays caused by waiting periods and work search requirements.

I want to acknowledge, in closing, that despite the urgency with which we have worked, this legislation had the benefit of extensive bipartisan negotiations and thoughtful consideration. My staff has worked around the clock, as always, working with Ranking Member Brady's staff to get bipartisan input into these provisions.

The Speaker and I have spent much time on the phone with the Secretary of the Treasury to ensure, along with Mr. Mnuchin, that this bill is a solution that the administration and both parties in this institution can support.

As a result, we have a very good product here. I am confident this measure will pass Congress with full bipartisan support and reach the President's desk without issue.

As we face this challenge, Americans are looking to their government leaders to come together and present real solutions. Today, we are doing that. We are taking decisive action to help limit the spread of coronavirus, allow Americans critical access to testing, and provide families financial security in the near and the long term.

Lastly, let me acknowledge the committee staff at the Ways and Means Committee for the work that they have put into this legislative achievement. Legislative counsel truly put in a Herculean effort to assemble this bill, along with leadership staff. They worked around the clock, all hours of the day and night, to create the immediacy of this legislation that will slow the spread of this virus, support American workers and families, and save lives.

In particular, I want to acknowledge the teams on our Health, Worker and Family Support, Select Revenue Measures, and Social Security Subcommittees for their excellent contributions. The American people will be better equipped to weather this crisis thanks to their important bipartisan work.

Mr. Speaker, I urge full support of this legislation.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source