Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Charlie Crist (D-St. Petersburg) released the following statement on House passage of H.R.6201 the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, a legislative package to address the impacts of the novel coronavirus on Americans’ personal safety and financial security as the pandemic reaches communities across the nation. The legislation, which passed a by a vote of 363-40, will establish paid sick leave for workers, free coronavirus testing, enhanced unemployment benefits, expanded food assistance, and additional funding to states and localities squeezed by coronavirus response.

“With the coronavirus threatening communities across the country, the People’s House has responded with a forceful message to working Americans: We have your back,” said Rep. Crist. “This legislation puts the people first and focuses the economic impact everyday Floridians are facing from the fight against this virus. Paid sick leave will give workers confidence to stay home when they are sick, and free coronavirus testing will provide peace of mind. Under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, additional resources will be available to frontline healthcare workers, families facing food insecurity, and state and local governments. Protecting Pinellas is and will always be my top priority in Congress.”

Congressman Crist has been leading efforts to improve the government’s response to the coronavirus, recently sending letters to the Centers for Disease Control (letter) pressing for increased transparency, asking the Florida Surgeon General to share more information on possible cases in Florida (letter), calling on the President to appoint a Coronavirus Czar (letter), and asking the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control to work to improve, expand, and expedite coronavirus testing (letter), a message that he reiterated yesterday, emphasizing the need for better, faster, and more accessible testing (letter).

The coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has more than 120,000 confirmed cases across Asia, Europe, and North America. Across the United States, there have been over 1,600 confirmed cases of the virus and more than 40 confirmed deaths. Florida accounts for 56 of those confirmed cases and 2 deaths.

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act bolsters the federal government’s response to the coronavirus outbreak by:

• Providing free coronavirus tests to all individuals, including the uninsured;
• Establishing an Emergency Paid Leave Program to replace a significant share of lost wages so that those who stay home to avoid spreading the virus or due to quarantine can pay their bills;
• Including more than $1 billion to provide food assistance to low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children, help local food banks, and provide meals to seniors;
• Enhance unemployment benefits for laid off and furloughed workers, as well as to those workers who exhaust their new paid leave benefit;
• Directing the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue an Emergency Temporary Standard to keep front-line health care workers safe;
• Increasing Medicaid funding to protect benefits.