Funding
- Senator Udall voted to pass the Families First Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 , the second phase of coronavirus response funding and legislation. which provides free testing for anyone who needs it, emergency unemployment insurance, an expansion of paid sick leave, food security assistance, and expanded Medicaid funding. More information on the funding package can be found HERE .
- The Medicaid funding is estimated to provide an additional amount of $250 million in federal Medicaid funding for New Mexico over a 12-month period. You can find more information on this funding HERE.
- Senator Udall voted in favor of the $8.3 billion supplemental coronavirus response package (H.R. 6074), which was signed into law on March 6, 2020. More information on the federal funding package can be found HERE .
- New Mexico has been allocated $6.4 million in the funding package, and has already received $500,000 of the total funds to bolster the state’s epidemiology and laboratory capacity.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will distribute the additional $5.9 million through the CDC Public Health Crisis Cooperative (CoAg)
Legislation
- Senator Udall introduced a bill to ensure that Tribal healthcare systems have the same access to critical emergency funding resources as the rest of the country. The bill, CDC Tribal Public Health Security and Preparedness Act (S. 3486) This legislation would allow Tribes to apply directly to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) program and authorizes the CDC to make any necessary modifications to the program to fit the needs of Tribal applicants. The CDC PHEP grant program seeks to increase the capacity and response timeliness of local public health entities during public health emergencies. You can find more information HERE .
- Senator Udall led a bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers to introduce The Border Health Security Act of 2020 (S. 3436). This legislation would strengthen national security and invest in the public health of border communities by updating and strengthening bilateral cooperation with Mexican and Canadian public health organizations. The legislation also authorizes $10.5 million per year in grant programs that address public health issues on the northern and southern borders for infectious disease testing, monitoring, and surveillance, health disparities, workforce training and development, and bioterrorism. You can find further information on this bill HERE .
- Senator Udall joined U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and a number of their Democratic Senate colleagues to introduce the Free COVID-19 Testing Act , which would expand free tests to confirm coronavirus (COVID-19) infections. Private insurers would be barred from imposing limits like prior authorization for testing. For uninsured individuals, this legislation would cover the cost of lab fees, and states would have the option and new incentives to cover COVID-19 diagnostic testing and related health care services through their Medicaid programs. You can find further information HERE .
- Senator Udall and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) introduced the Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act , legislation that would guarantee that the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations have access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if a public health emergency could exhaust local supplies. Currently, IHS and Tribal health authorities’ access to the SNS is very limited and is not guaranteed in the SNS statute. In contrast, states’ and large municipalities’ public health authorities have ready access to the SNS. The lawmakers’ bill comes as the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) indicated that IHS is likely to face shortages of necessary equipment as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread. You can find further information HERE.
- Senator Udall joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to introduce the Natural Disaster and Emergency Ballot Act of 2020 , legislation that would ensure New Mexicans and all Americans are still able to vote safely by expanding early in-person voting and no-excuse absentee vote-by-mail to all states, and allowing voters who did not receive an absentee ballot to use a printable ballot currently only provided for military and overseas voters. The legislation comes following widespread confusion surrounding Ohio’s primary this week, and following announcements by Louisiana and Georgia officials that they are postponing their April presidential primaries. You can find further information on the bill HERE.
Executive Oversight and Accountability
1. Senator Udall led a bipartisan group of 27 senators to send an urgent letter to Vice President Mike Pence urging the Trump administration to mount a COVID-19 response that meaningfully engages with Native communities and Tribal leaders to ensure that Indian Country. You can view that letter HERE .
2. Senator Udall joined all Senate Democrats in a letter urging the Trump administration to prioritize American workers for his response to COVID-19 over the bottom lines of big corporations. He is urging the White House to adopt practices that will benefit workers such as paid sick leave, food security, and supporting anti-price gouging protections. You can view that letter HERE .
3. Senator Udall also joined Senate colleagues to ask for information about how the Trump administration is issuing guidance to protect populations particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. In the letter, the senators are asking Trump administration public health officials to protect nursing home residents, families, and workers from the spread of COVID-19. You can view that letter HERE .
4. Senator Udall joined Senator Mark Warner (D-Va.) in a letter urging the Administration to consider adopting practices that will benefit workers such as paid sick leave, food security, and supporting anti-price gouging protections. You can view that letter HERE .
5. Senator Udall also sent a request with Senator Jack Reed (D-R.I.) to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that the Trump Administration allow for a special enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act for those uninsured who contract COVID-19. You can view that letter HERE .
6. Senator Udall joined Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and the Democratic members of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in a letter to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requesting information on the VA’s preparedness to treat veterans throughout the COVID-19 public health emergency, in addition to the VA’s “Fourth Mission” to support the national health care system in a national emergency. You can view the letter HERE .
7. Senator Udall signed a letter with 26 fellow senators urging President Trump to immediately issue an executive order directing agencies to utilize telework capabilities to the maximum extent possible for federal workers. After the senators’ letter was sent on Monday, the Trump administration issued further directions to federal agencies to expand telework to federal offices outside the D.C. region. With its important federal facilities and significant public lands, there are over 21,900 federal civilian employees in New Mexico, according to the White House Office of Personnel Management. You can view the letter HERE.
8. Senator Udall and 17 other Democrats sent a letter to Senate leadership outlining an important new proposal to provide Americans with $2,000 in direct cash payments as the economic fallout from the novel coronavirus outbreak continues to escalate. In the letter, the senators outline a proposal to provide a $2,000 immediate cash payment to every adult, child (or non-child dependent), and recipient of Social Security, Veterans Affairs (VA) benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The proposal calls for additional cash payments should the public health crisis extend, or if the unemployment rate increases. The payments would phase-out for higher-income taxpayers. You can see the full letter HERE.
9. Senator Udall and the entire New Mexico congressional delegation sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services leadership requesting the release the state of New Mexico’s full allotment of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as protective gloves and masks, for health care providers responding to the novel Coronavirus emergency. Currently, the state of New Mexico has received 25 percent of its full allotment of PPE from the Strategic National Stockpile, a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if a public health emergency could exhaust local supplies. You can view the letter HERE.
10. Senator Udall joined all eight Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo requesting Pompeo immediately present a plan to Congress on the U.S. Department of State’s efforts to assist Americans abroad seeking to return home. Senate offices have received a substantial increase in calls for help from constituents and concerned families who have reported they are unable to secure flights home to the U.S., and in some cases, have had difficulty contacting U.S. Embassies and consulates. Udall and the New Mexico congressional delegation also released a statement and followed the statement with a formal letter calling on Pompeo to act swiftly to assist constituents abroad. You can view the Senate Democrats' letter
HERE
,
the New Mexico delegation's statement
HERE
and the New Mexico delegation's letter
HERE.
11. Senator Udall joined Senator Chris Murphy and 14 Senate Democrats in a letter to the CEOs of the seven largest health insurance companies calling on them to cover all COVID-19 related treatment and services without cost-sharing requirements and allowing Americans to get tested, assessed and treated without the fear of unexpected medical bills and remove economic barriers from addressing the current public health crisis. You can view that letter HERE.
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