Notice From Senator Van Hollen's Office:
Marylanders and all Americans are concerned about the coronavirus.
I want to let you know what I’m working on in the Senate and across the state to help our communities and protect our residents. And you’re invited to join me for a Telephone Town Hall I am hosting with Dr. Leana Wen. We will update you on the fight against the coronavirus, both on the federal and state level. To join us, dial 855-962-1138 or join online at 6:30PM EST tonight (Wednesday).
There are three main ways we are working to bolster our response to coronavirus: providing the resources our health care system needs to treat the sick and reduce the virus’ spread; coordinating across all levels of government to ensure resources and information are getting into the hands of those who need them; and directly helping families that are struggling to buy food and pay bills due to this crisis.
The legislation we passed two weeks ago was a critical “Phase 1” to shore up public health systems, provide funds to states, and enable a strategic government response (more on that bill below).
Now, after days of unnecessary delay, the Senate is finally poised to act on the “Phase 2” legislation passed by the House. This bill is an essential step to ensure free coronavirus testing, provide paid sick leave so that workers can stay home when they are ill, expand food assistance, and support emergency unemployment insurance. It will allow many workers to pay the rent and expenses even if they lose their job – an urgent matter given ongoing layoffs in the hospitality industries.
While the Phase 2 package is not perfect, getting it done will be an important step forward. And we’re already at work on a much larger Phase 3 package of additional emergency measures that will get assistance to small businesses, especially in the hospitality industry, and help folks not covered by the previous legislation.
This is an urgent matter. We should pass Phase 2 today and work to complete Phase 3 before the end of this week.
As the Senate acts, I’m staying in continuous contact with health care leaders across our state, and federal officials involved in the response, to ensure that we’re taking care of the most vulnerable members of our community. You can find more details on all this below and at my coronavirus website.
For medical information, regularly visit the CDC coronavirus website.
For information on how the virus is affecting our state, visit the Maryland DOH coronavirus website. And if you feel ill or have individual questions, contact your health care provider.
We’ve all been frustrated with aspects of the federal response, including the slow ramp up of testing for the virus nationwide. We are working to make tests more widely available and make it easier for people who need testing to get it. But let’s be clear, we find ourselves needing to make up for lost time.
Before the crisis, the Trump Administration dismantled the White House global health security and biodefense office specifically established to prepare for and quarterback the response to pandemics. Early in the outbreak, Trump’s complacency allowed the virus to get an 8-to-10 week head start. For way too long, the President downplayed the crisis and engaged in dangerous happy talk. He must allow health care officials to lead the response and keep the public informed.
We’re headed in the right direction now, with Congress working in a bipartisan way with health care and economic officials at all levels of government to address this crisis.
Communities across our country are pulling together to help each other and stay safe. As we each do what we need to do to respond effectively and slow the spread of the virus in our communities, I’ll continue to keep you updated.
Chris Van Hollen