FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Hannah Muldavin, Hannah.Muldavin@mail.house.gov

Congressman Trone: Maryland to receive over $10 Million from CDC to Support COVID-19 Response

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman David Trone announced the state of Maryland would receive $10,759,226.90 in federal funding from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to support the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In total, the CDC announced they would reward over $560 million to state and local jurisdictions across the country.

This money is a part of the $8.3 billion Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2020, which passed the House and was signed by the President last week.

“The federal government must fully fund the resources needed to combat the spread of COVID-19, and this $10 million will go directly to support Maryland’s efforts,” said Congressman David Trone (MD-06). “I just got off the phone with the hospital and public health leaders of the five counties in our district, and the message was loud and clear: we need consistent and predictable long-term public health funding. I will continue to work to provide the necessary funding to address all health and economic concerns caused by this pandemic.”

The $8.3 billion supplemental included:

• More than $3 billion to the development of treatments and a coronavirus vaccine and includes an additional $300 million to ensure Americans will have access to the vaccine regardless of their ability to pay.
• Protects against price-gouging of medicines developed with taxpayer dollars by ensuring that the federal government will only pay a fair and reasonable price for coronavirus vaccines and drugs and providing HHS the authority to ensure that they are affordable in the commercial market.
• Provides $2.2 billion in public health funding for prevention, preparedness and response, including nearly a billion dollars specifically to alleviate the immense financial strain on state, local, tribal and territorial hospitals and health systems.
• Protects public health by allowing Medicare providers to extend telemedicine services to seniors regardless of where they live, at an estimated cost of $500 million.
• Supports small businesses impacted by this epidemic, allowing for an estimated $7 billion in low-interest SBA loans to those affected.

Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. This week, Trone held a call with all public  health officials in all five counties to hear about what is happening on the ground and what resources they need in order to address the coronavirus. On Tuesday, he met with the Maryland Department of Health in order to coordinate support for Maryland’s efforts to rapidly respond to COVID-19. Trone’s website features best practices and information on how to find the best resources for COVID-19.

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