Friends,

On Friday, President Trump declared a National Emergency in response to the spread of coronavirus. The President invoked the Stafford Act which will open up more than $42 billion in federal resources to aid state and local governments that are combating this virus. 

An emergency declaration will allow the federal government to help states pay for expenses including emergency healthcare workers, medical tests, and other supplies necessary to slow the spread of coronavirus. I applaud this critical action that will allow the White House to mobilize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and direct federal aid where it is needed the most. 

In addition to this, the White House sent out this document after the President declared a National Emergency which includes details about the whole of government approach being employed to respond to coronavirus.

The President’s announcements were a key step in ensuring America marshals all the tools necessary to confront the challenge of Coronavirus and protect all Americans. I want to commend the President, the Vice President, the members of the Coronavirus Task Force and the private sector American companies who stood with the President and pledged their support and expertise. 

The Families First Coronavirus Response Act

Early on Saturday morning, I voted for H.R. 6201, legislation endorsed by the President that will provide protections for American families and businesses. The resources in this bill will help America address the coronavirus crisis, through testing and emergency economic support. The nation will face challenging times in the coming weeks, but we have the best, most innovative medical system in the world. Copied below are key facts about the Families First Coronavirus Response Act:

+ Achieves the President’s goal of free testing— which builds on private sector efforts— to ensure no cost barriers for Americans seeking medically appropriate diagnostic lab tests for the coronavirus.
+ Makes good on President Trump’s promise to provide financial assistance for working Americans who are “ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to coronavirus” — and it does so via a tax credit to employers rather than a new entitlement.
+ Protects seniors and those with severe medical conditions by ensuring the Social Security Administration is not running a new paid leave program for those affected by COVID-19.
+ Across the bill, relief is targeted to the duration of the COVID-19 threat. If the threat subsides, the cost will be lower, but if the threat increases, support will be available.
+ The health provisions are targeted to COVID-19 without including unrelated treatments, ensuring Hyde protections remain intact.
+ Blocked Democrats from adding new burdens on hospitals that would have overruled the CDC’s science-based guidelines and prevented critical flexibility for care providers.
+ Increased access to telehealth services for new Medicare beneficiaries, helping patients with chronic conditions avoid regular trips to the doctor to lower the strain.

Wyoming Department of Heath Recommendations 

I am closely monitoring the recently announced cases of COVID-19 in Wyoming and will continue working with Wyoming’s public health professionals. We are united in utilizing all local, state, and federal resources necessary to keep the people of Wyoming healthy and safe. 

The Wyoming Department of Health is sharing recommendations with Wyoming residents and healthcare providers. Daily updates can be found here.

Healthcare providers with coronavirus-related questions about specific patients should call 1-888-996-9104 for guidance.

To all federal employees: The White House is encouraging executive branch departments and agencies to maximize telework capabilities to slow the spread of coronavirus. More information can be found here.

With the number of COVID-19 cases rising across the country, the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force publicized important tips to be shared in order to keep workplaces, schools, homes, and commercial establishments safe, and to decrease the spread of coronavirus.

This week, I addressed the latest updates on coronavirus including ongoing mitigation efforts. The spread of coronavirus is serious and requires aggressive action to keep the American people safe. 

“We just came from a very useful and important Republican Conference meeting. We heard from a number of people, including [former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration] Dr. Scott Gottlieb, talking about what to be prepared for, what to expect. We all take very seriously the situation with the virus. I think it’s very clear, as you’ve heard from Dr. Fauci and others — we’re into a period now where we really need to be responsible about mitigation, we need to be responsible about social distancing. Particularly, there’s new guidance that the CDC just issued within the last 24-48 hours about if you’re over 60, you’re at an increased risk and thinking through what that means.”

Last week, Congress passed an $8.3 billion emergency supplemental package for the U.S. response to the coronavirus which included:

• More than $4 billion to make diagnostic tests more broadly available; to support treatments; to invest in vaccine development; and to protect the integrity of medical products manufactured overseas and identify and prevent potential shortages;
• $2.2 billion for the CDC, including nearly $1 billion for state and local response efforts;
• $20 million for disaster assistance loans for small businesses; and o $1.25 billion for the State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development
• The package also includes a bipartisan provision that would allow the home to be an originating site for purposes of telehealth during this public health emergency, allowing more patients to get the care they need at home to avoid potentially overcrowded health care facilities, especially in rural areas.

What We Must Do To Slow The Spread Of Coronavirus

Former Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Scott Gottlieb, has been a leading voice in communicating why it’s critical for the U.S. to take aggressive action to stop the spread of coronavirus. 

“There is still time to implement tough mitigation measures that would reduce the scope of a nationwide epidemic. . .They will help mitigate the spread of COVID-19, slowing it down and allowing medical facilities to deal with the sickest among us without being overwhelmed.”

Click the links below to read Scott Gottlieb’s recent op-eds:

Washington Post:Quarantining cities isn’t needed. But a fast, coordinated response to COVID-19 is essential.

USA Today:Former FDA chief & Harvard professor: Take smart steps to slow spread of the coronavirus

Additionally, the Executive Director of Ariadne Labs, Dr. Asaf Bitton, has provided some steps you can start taking now to keep your family safe and do your part to avoid a worsening crisis: Social Distancing: This is Not a Snow Day

Testimony From Dr. Anthony Fauci, Member Of The U.S. Coronavirus Task Force

On Wednesday, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing titled, “Coronavirus Preparedness and Response”. Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the U.S. Coronavirus Task Force, offered important testimony about the need for aggressive action to contain and mitigate coronavirus. Click below to watch. 

“If we now sit back complacently — I can’t give you a realistic number [of coronavirus deaths] until we put into the factor of how we respond. If we are complacent and don’t do really aggressive containment and mitigation, the number could go way up and be involved in many, many millions. If we contain, we could flatten it. So there’s no number answer to your question until we act upon it.”

“We will see more cases and things will get worse than they are right now. How much worse it will get will depend on our ability to do two things, to contain the influx of people who are infected coming from the outside, and the ability to contain and mitigate within our own country. . .Looking forward, as commercial entities get involved in making a large amount of tests, when you do two aspects of testing, one, a person comes in to a physician and ask for a test because they have symptoms or a circumstance which suggests they may be infected. The other way is to do surveillance. You go out into the community and not wait for someone to come in and ask for a test, but you proactively get a test. We are pushing for that.”

Steps To Prevent Getting Sick:

The CDC has provided the following guidance on best practices that you can take to minimize the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as coronavirus:

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
• Vaccinations – Stay up to date on vaccinations, including the influenza vaccine.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Maintain at least six feet of distance from anyone exhibiting obvious symptoms.
• Stay home when you are sick.

For more information about prevention and treatment of coronavirus, please visit the Center for Disease Control’s website here. 

What To Do If You Are Sick:

• Stay home and call your doctor
• Call your healthcare provider and let them know about your symptoms. Tell them that you have or may have COVID-19. This will help them take care of you and keep other people from getting infected or exposed.
• If you are not sick enough to be hospitalized, you can recover at home. Follow CDC instructions for how to take care of yourself at home.
• Know when to get emergency help
• Get medical attention immediately if you have any of the emergency warning signs listed above.

The CDC has encouraged all individuals with specific coronavirus questions to call the designated hotline at 1-800-CDC-INFO, where questions and referrals will be answered immediately. 

Congresswoman Liz Cheney