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- House Approves Large COVID-19 Relief Bill; Includes $7.5 Billion for Vaccine Distribution
On February 27, the House approved the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan legislative package, which includes increased vaccine distribution and provisions to support COVID-19 testing. The bill passed by a party-line vote of 219-212 and now goes to Senate for further consideration. The CAP supports several provisions in the bill that increase resources for testing, including genomic sequencing, and state and local assistance for health care workers. The CAP has also asked Congress to include additional financial assistance to pathologists and laboratories.
In the House-passed legislation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would receive $7.5 billion for COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The legislation also provides the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) roughly $50 billion for testing programs, contact tracing, and mitigation, including creating a national strategy and contact tracing of COVID-19; and $7.6 billion for efforts related to establishing, expanding, and sustaining a public health workforce, and to make awards to state, local, and territorial public health departments. The legislation also includes $25.2 billion for addressing health disparities and protecting vulnerable populations. While the package includes several key health care items, it does not include any additional resources for a Provider Relief Fund.
Outside of health care provisions in the bill, the legislation would provide $1,400 stimulus checks to eligible Americans and $350 billion in aid to states, cities, and local communities.