Early Saturday morning, I voted for H.R. 6201, the bipartisan Families First Coronavirus Response Act, critical legislation to support El Paso families facing the COVID-19.

With this legislation, I’m putting families first and appropriating funds to ensure free coronavirus testing for every El Pasoan who needs a test, including the uninsured, and protect the economic and food security of workers and their families.

This legislation:

• Ensures that all individuals who need a test, including those with private insurance, Medicare Advantage or Original Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, VA, FEHBP, and TRICARE, as well as the uninsured, will have access to tests at no cost.
• Includes more than $1 billion to provide nutritious foods to low-income pregnant women and mothers with young children, help local food banks, and provide meals to seniors. It also protects students’ access to school meals during school closures.
• Increases the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) that the federal government provides to state and territorial Medicaid programs. This will prevent states from cutting Medicaid benefits and services.
• Gives states the resources and flexibility to provide unemployment benefits to laid off and furloughed workers, as well as to those workers who exhaust their allotted paid leave.
• Establishes an Emergency Paid Leave Program, including two weeks of paid sick leave and up to three months of paid family and medical leave, that replaces a significant share of lost wages so that those who take leave to avoid spreading the virus or due to illness or caregiving responsibilities can pay their bills. The Emergency Paid Leave Program applies to companies with fewer than 500 employees.

Last week, I voted for an emergency coronavirus response package of $8.3 billion which included funding for vaccine development, support for state and local governments, and assistance for affected small businesses. This bipartisan package, negotiated by House Democrats, was signed into law by President Trump on March 6, 2020.

As a member of Congress, the health and safety of Americans is my top priority. In that spirit, my office will implement new measures to assist in preventing the spread of COVID-19. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and I encourage all El Pasoans to follow the CDC’s preventive measures.

The changes include:

• Beginning on Monday, March 16, 2020, all staff members and interns who work in the Washington, D.C. office will be required to telework, until further notice.
• The El Paso office will remain open - but this is subject to daily review and could change. Staff members will continue to receive and respond to telephone calls, provide casework assistance, and answer correspondence. Visitors that present symptoms of respiratory illness upon arrival will be asked to re-schedule their meeting.
• At the direction of the Sergeant-at-Arms and in consultation with the Office of Attending Physician, the Capitol complex is closed to members of the general public, including tours, from March 13, 2020 until at least the end of the month.

The best way to prevent infection is to avoid being exposed to the virus that causes COVID-19. There are simple, everyday preventive actions to help contain the spread of respiratory viruses, including: 

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

If you are sick, to keep from spreading respiratory illness to others, you should:

• Stay home except to get medical care. 
• Call ahead before visiting your doctor.
• Wear a facemask.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes.
• Avoid sharing personal household items.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.