Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Doris Matsui (CA-6), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Subcommittee on Health, issued the following statement on the passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.

Today, the House passed an emergency aid package which is focused directly on providing support for America’s families. The House package includes free coronavirus testing for everyone who needs a test, including the uninsured.

“We have a duty to do everything we can to prevent this outbreak from harming American families. This legislation expands paid emergency leave, enhances unemployment insurance, strengthens food security measures, and increases federal funding for Medicaid,” said Congresswoman Matsui, Sacramento’s voice in Congress. “As this virus continues to spread, an urgent, comprehensive response from the federal government is a necessity. The Senate and the President must as soon as possible get this aid passed, signed into law, and to those who need it most.”

The legislation also includes the following:

• For families’ economic security: The House has secured paid emergency leave with two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave.  The House has also secured enhanced Unemployment Insurance, a step that will extend protections to furloughed workers. 
• For families’ food security: The House has strengthened nutrition security initiatives, including SNAP, student meals, seniors’ nutrition and food banks.  22 million children rely on free or reduced-price school meals for their food security; this package will help ensure that they have food to eat. 
• For families’ health security: The House has increased federal funds for Medicaid to support our local, state, tribal and territorial governments and health systems, so that they have the resources necessary to combat this crisis.   

The full text of the legislation is available here.

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