WASHINGTON - Today, Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) provided a legislative update to Delawareans during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“While I am following the guidelines from the CDC and practicing social distancing by teleworking this week, I want Delawareans to know my team and I are still hard at work, holding conference calls with stakeholders, and looking for legislative solutions to this public health crisis,” said Rep. Blunt Rochester. “Moving forward, I will be providing constituents with regular updates on legislative actions I am taking to combat COVID-19 and its wide-ranging implications.”
Last week, the House of Representatives passed two bipartisan response packages to the COVID-19 outbreak, HR 6074, the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, and HR 6201, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. Negotiations are underway for a third Congressional response package.
Coronavirus Actions
Telephone Town Hall
On March 17th, Blunt Rochester hosted a telephone town hall with Dr. Karyl Rattay, the Director of the Delaware Division of Public Health to inform Delawareans about the virus and the actions being taken in Congress.
The telephone town hall had nearly 16 thousand participants and over 300 submitted questions.
Congressional Advocacy
On March 12th, Blunt Rochester signed a letter to major telecommunications providers to ensure people remain connected.
On March 13th, Blunt Rochester signed a letter to the President requesting he use the Defense Production Act to help address critical shortages in supplies, such as medical supplies.
On Tuesday, March 17th, President Trump announced he would invoke the Defense Production Act
On March 17th, Blunt Rochester sent a letter to the Department of Defense on utilizing their services to build health care facilities to combat the coronavirus.
On March 18th, Blunt Rochester joined a letter requesting for Moratorium on Foreclosures and Evictions from FHFA, HUD, VA, USDA Federally Assisted Housing.
Subsequently announced that HUD, Fannie, Freddie suspended foreclosures and evictions.
On March 18th, Blunt Rochester joined a letter urging the reauthorization of community health center funding, which is currently set to expire May 22nd.
On March 18th, Blunt Rochester joined a letter requesting information from the Department of Defense on how it will be testing and caring for deployed troops that contract COVID-19, especially those in Afghanistan.
On March 18th, Blunt Rochester signed a letter to Speaker Pelosi and Leader McConnell to address the needs of rural hospitals and rural community health centers.
On March 19th, Blunt Rochester signed a letter to Congressional Leadership asking them to prioritize mental health in any subsequent COVID-19 relief package.
On March 19th, Blunt Rochester signed a letter asking for protections for first responders and EMS.
On March 19th, Blunt Rochester signed a letter to Speaker Pelosi requesting increased support for small businesses, including cash assistance and other responses beyond loans, in any subsequent COVID-19 relief package.
On March 19th, Blunt Rochester joined a letter to request the Department of Education to put all student loans in a state of deferment or forbearance.
On March 19th, Blunt Rochester joined a letter to House leadership asking for inclusion of protections for freelance workers and contractors in coronavirus packages.
Bills
Blunt Rochester was an original cosponsor of the Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act - the bill would support veterans using GI Bill and other VA-related education programs by:
Providing the stipend for vets who will be in school in the next term, if the virus persists.
Allowing VA to provide work-study benefits veterans would have received otherwise if the virus didn’t shut everything down.
Would not count minimum work-study requirements for those in the program.
If schools temporarily close for any reason, the bill would allow VA to provide those student vets with an additional monthly housing payment to help them get back on their feet. It would also extend an additional payment once every six months depending on the duration of the crisis.
Blunt Rochester cosponsored HR 6275 Supporting Students in Response to Coronavirus Act.
Would provide $1.2 billion in Education Preparedness and Support Grants to Governors to help impacted school districts and higher education institutions.
Would provide $600 million in grants to early care and education programs to allow them to maintain critical program operations.
Would provide $1.2 billion in emergency financial aid to students in higher education to help them address their basic needs created or exacerbated by unexpected closures due to the coronavirus.
Blunt Rochester cosponsored a bill which puts in place the benefit expansions in H.R. 860, the Social Security 2100 Act immediately (through December 31, 2020)
Increase Social Security benefits on average 2% across the board to all 64 million Americans currently receiving Social Security benefits and any that become eligible between the date of enactment and December 31, 2020.
Increase the threshold for Special Minimum Benefit to 125% of the federal poverty rate.
Reduce tax on Social Security benefits for lower- and middle-income taxpayers.
Statements:
On March 18th, Blunt Rochester called on Delaware utility companies to keep the lights and water on during this period of social distancing.
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