WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate passed a supplemental funding package to respond to the outbreak of coronavirus by a vote of 96 to 1. U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) released the following statement after voting in favor of the package: 

“This package will provide necessary resources to combat the spread of coronavirus. It will help develop a vaccine, support state and local governments, and assist our community health centers. I am so proud of the Nebraskans who are responding to this crisis through the great work at UNMC, Nebraska Medicine, and Camp Ashland.”

Overview of the supplemental:

The package contains $8.3 billion in total funding, including:

-        $3.1 billion for the research and development of vaccines and hospital and health system      preparedness

-        $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

-        $950 million to support state and local governments

-        $61 million to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

-        $836 million to NIH to assist the research of treatments and assist in training the workforce

-        $100 million to community health centers

-        $250 million to the Economic Support Fund

-        $435 million to the State Department for global health programs

-        $300 million for the CDC’s global health efforts

-        $300 million in humanitarian aid in countries where the disease is spreading