Sen. Udall's Legislative Actions to Address Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, March 17 -- Sen. Tom Udall, D-New Mexico, issued the following news release:

Funding

* Senator Udall voted in favor of the $8.3 billion supplemental coronavirus response package (H.R. 6074), which was signed into law on March 6, 2020. More information on the federal funding package can be found here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-heinrich-vote-for-83-billion-emergency-coronavirus-response-package)

* New Mexico has been allocated $6.4 million in the funding package, and has already received $500,000 of the total funds to bolster the state's epidemiology and laboratory capacity.

* The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will distribute the additional $5.9 million through the CDC Public Health Crisis Cooperative (CoAg)

Legislation

Senator Udall introduced a bill to ensure that Tribal healthcare systems have the same access to critical * emergency funding resources as the rest of the country. The bill, CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act (S. 3486) This legislation would allow Tribes to apply directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program and authorizes the CDC to make any necessary modifications to the program to fit the needs of Tribal applicants. The CDC PHEP grant program seeks to increase the capacity and response timeliness of local public health entities during public health emergencies. You can find more information here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-introduces-legislation-to-increase-tribal-public-health-security-and-preparedness)

* Senator Udall led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to introduce The Border Health Security Act of 2020 (S. 3436). This legislation would strengthen national security and invest in the public health of border communities by updating and strengthening bilateral cooperation with Mexican and Canadian public health organizations. The legislation also authorizes $10.5 million per year in grant programs that address public health issues on the northern and southern borders for infectious disease testing, monitoring, and surveillance, health disparities, workforce training and development, and bioterrorism. You can find further information on this bill here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-leads-bipartisan-bicameral-group-of-border-lawmakers-to-introduce-bill-to-strengthen-infectious-disease-monitoring-and-support-border-community-health-initiatives)

* Senator Udall joined U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and a number of their Democratic Senate colleagues to introduce the Free COVID-19 Testing Act, which would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. Private insurers would be barred from imposing limits like prior authorization for testing. For uninsured individuals, this legislation would cover the cost of lab fees, and states would have the option and new incentives to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services through their Medicaid programs. You can find further information here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-heinrich-introduce-bill-to-expand-free-coronavirus-testing)

* Senator Udall and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act, legislation that would guarantee that the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations have access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if a public health emergency could exhaust local supplies. Currently, IHS and Tribal health authorities' access to the SNS is very limited and is not guaranteed in the SNS statute. In contrast, states' and large municipalities' public health authorities have ready access to the SNS. The lawmakers' bill comes as the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) indicated that IHS is likely to face shortages of necessary equipment as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread. You can find further information here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-warren-unveil-bill-to-guarantee-tribal-health-authorities-to-access-the-strategic-national-stockpile)

Executive Oversight and Accountability

1. Senator Udall led a bipartisan group of 27 senators to send an urgent letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the Trump administration to mount a COVID-19 response that meaningfully engages with Native communities and Tribal leaders to ensure that Indian Country. You can view that letter here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-leads-bipartisan-group-of-senators-urging-vice-president-pence-to-ensure-coronavirus-resources-for-tribes-and-urban-native-communities)

2. Senator Udall joined all Senate Democrats in a letter urging the Trump administration to prioritize American workers for his response to COVID-19 over the bottom lines of big corporations. He is urging the White House to adopt practices that will benefit workers such as paid sick leave, food security, and supporting anti-price gouging protections. You can view that letter here.( https://www.warner.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/f/b/fba63c7a-27ca-4ddb-b0b9-7ad82d8341d0/F6E05D3B19C8E63896CD2111AF165BE0.3.1..20-president-trump-letter.pdf)

3. Senator Udall also joined Senate colleagues to ask for information about how the Trump administration is issuing guidance to protect populations particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. In the letter, the senators are asking Trump administration public health officials to protect nursing home residents, families, and workers from the spread of COVID-19. You can view that letter here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/download/nursing-home-protection-letter)

4. Senator Udall joined Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) in a letter urging the Administration to consider adopting practices that will benefit workers such as paid sick leave, food security, and supporting anti-price gouging protections. You can view that letter here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-sends-letter-to-president-calling-for-coronavirus-economic-response-that-focuses-on-workers-and-families)

5. Senator Udall also sent a request with Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that the Trump Administration allow for a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act for those uninsured who contract COVID-19. You can view that letter here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-tom-udalls-legislative-actions-to-address-the-novel-coronavirus/03.12.20%20Ltr%20to%20HHS%20CMS%20Re%20Coronavirus%20Special%20Enrollment.pdf)

6. Senator Udall joined Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and the Democratic members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting information on the VA's preparedness to treat veterans throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, in addition to the VA's "Fourth Mission" to support the national health care system in a national emergency. You can view the letter here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/news/press-releases/udall-pushes-for-va-to-increase-protections-for-veterans-during-coronavirus-outbreak)

To download and print this information, please click here.( https://www.tomudall.senate.gov/download/31620-udall-legislative-actions-on-covid-19)