See important clips, articles, and information concerning the Coronavirus pandemic and the USG response

Good Afternoon: Earlier today, the House passed the CARES Act by a voice vote, sending it to President Trump's desk after the Senate approved it unanimously on Wednesday night. The President has said previously that he will sign it immediately.  The CARES Act is Phase Three of Congress's legislative response to the spread of the coronavirus, following an emergency supplemental appropriations bill that the President signed into law on March 6th, and the Families First Coronavirus Response Act that the President signed into law on March 18th.  This legislation will provide direct financial assistance to the American people, bring relief to small businesses and their employees, take steps to stabilize the economy and protect industries of national importance, and provide key resources for medical professionals and hospitals as they work to fight and ultimately defeat this virus.   See below for complete information about the CARES Act: Full text of the final bill Section-by-section summary of the bill Info courtesy of Leader Kevin McCarthy Info courtesy of the House Republican Conference Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Ways & Means Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Energy & Commerce Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Education & Labor Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Financial Services Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Small Business Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Administration Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee Info courtesy of Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee In other news, the Department of Labor reported yesterday that weekly claims for unemployment increased to 3,283,000 last week. During a briefing yesterday with the White House Coronavirus Task Force, President Trump said that he spoke earlier in the day with the nation's 50 Governors, and also reportedly sent them a letter indicating that the Administration, "is working to publish new guidelines for state and local policymakers to use in making decisions about maintaining, increasing, or relaxing social distancing and other mitigation measures they have put in place."  Also during the briefing, the President announced that FEMA has shipped over 9 million N95 masks, 20 million face masks, 3.1 million face shields, nearly 6,000 ventilators, 2.6 million gowns, 14.6 million gloves, and that more are being sent daily. He also announced that the USNS Comfort will deploy to New York City on Saturday and arrive on Monday, three weeks ahead of schedule The Vice-President said that testing is available in all 50 states, and that the latest reports showed that in coordination with commercial labs across the country, 552,000 tests have been performed and completed across the United States. He added that Abbott Laboratories submitted a request for approval of a point of care test to the FDA that would allow patients to get a test from their doctor and receive the results in 15 minutes. On the subject of testing, the Health & Human Services department shared information with the priorities for testing patients with suspected COVID-19 infection. On the subject of ventilators, the Vice-President announced that the Administration is working with a number of suppliers to manufacture them, even while we work with state leaders to assess not just what ventilators are available in their state hospitals, but what ventilators are available in private hospitals across their state. Republicans on the Energy & Commerce Committee shared the following document for more background on the U.S. supply of ventilators: WHAT'S AHEAD The White House Coronavirus Task Force is scheduled to hold another briefing at 5:30pm today. Watch it here at that time. Copyright © 2020 House of Representatives, All rights reserved. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.