Congress has agreed to an $8.3 billion emergency funding package for coronavirus response
SALEM – Governor Kate Brown spoke with Vice President Mike Pence by phone about Oregon’s preparedness and and the $8.3 billion emergency funding package Congress approved for coronavirus response.
“As health care professionals across the nation work to treat patients with COVID-19, I was pleased to see our leaders in Congress work together and come to an agreement to support response efforts. I’d like to thank Senator Merkley, Senator Wyden, and Oregon’s entire congressional delegation for their efforts to make this bipartisan agreement a reality,” said Gov. Brown.
“On Tuesday, I submitted a letter to Vice President Mike Pence outlining Oregon’s potential needs in responding to the coronavirus. Yesterday, I spoke personally with the Vice President about our shared goal of safeguarding Americans from the spread of the virus. I feel confident that, as a former Governor, he understands the urgency at a state level to make sure we have the resources we need to identify and treat cases of COVID-19.
“Another priority we share is preventing shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) like masks, gowns, and gloves so that medical providers are able to safely treat patients with COVID-19. We also discussed my request for increased flexibility around COVID-19 testing, and I was pleased to see that the CDC is issuing new guidance for states. The Vice President and I are in agreement that these are both critical issues to be addressed now, at the outset of this evolving public health crisis.
“This is not a time for partisanship or dwelling on past differences. It’s time for leaders and public servants to stand united and act quickly to contain this disease.”
