Rep. Slotkin Statement on Passage of Families First Coronavirus Response Act

WASHINGTON, March 16 -- Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Michigan, issued the following statement on March 14 after voting for the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed the House:

"This legislation helps us address both the public health crisis our nation is facing and its impact on workers and families. Yesterday, I spoke directly with more than 70 local leaders across my district -- the mayors, township supervisors, fire chiefs, and police officers on the front lines of response -- and heard directly about the serious needs we are facing. Greater access to testing and personal protective equipment were among their top concerns, as was the growing economic impact that this outbreak is already having on our local communities.

"This substantial relief package allows for cost-free coronavirus testing regardless of insurance status, expands emergency paid leave, gives states additional resources to provide workers with unemployment insurance, and provides more than $1 billion for food security initiatives to ensure that families don't go hungry. This isn't just good economic policy -- it's essential public health policy. We can't ask workers to stay home if they can't afford to miss work. Everything we can do to encourage Americans to take prudent public health steps will keep us all safer.

"I am grateful to leaders of both parties in Congress and the Administration for working to make this legislation bipartisan, an important signal of unity at this time."

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act includes several provisions designed to accelerate the public health response to the COVID-19 virus and to reduce its impact on working families and businesses. Those steps include:

* Ensures access to cost free testing for coronavirus: This bill ensures that individuals who need a test, including those with private insurance, Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, VA, and TRICARE, as well as the uninsured, will have access to the test at no cost.

* Expands emergency leave: This bill requires companies with fewer than 500 employees to provide two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, at two-thirds of the employee's usual pay.

* Enhanced unemployment insurance: This bill ensures that states will be provided the resources and flexibility to provide unemployment benefits to laid off and furloughed workers, as well as to those workers who exhaust their allotted paid leave. This measure also provides additional funding to help the hardest-hit states immediately and in the future if conditions worsen.

* Provides for food security for our families: This bill includes more than $1 billion to provide food to low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children, help local food banks, and feed low-income seniors. It ensures that students who depend on schools and childcare for free and reduced-price meals continue to have access to nutritious foods during closures. And it provides women, infants, and children with the flexibility to access food and infant formula without having to make unnecessary or unsafe visits to clinics.

* Increase health security: This bill increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP), which the federal government provides to state and territorial Medicaid programs. This will prevent states from cutting benefits, reducing their Medicaid rolls, or imposing greater costs on enrollees.

Representative Slotkin will hold a general tele-town hall for all 8th District residents at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17. Constituents can sign up to participate at https://slotkin.house.gov/live.