Sherrill Statement on Passage of Families First Coronavirus Response Act 

Parsippany, NJ — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) released the following statement in response to the Senate’s passage of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (H.R. 6201):

“This bipartisan bill is a tremendous step in the right direction – it provides paid sick leave and paid family leave, strengthens unemployment benefits, makes COVID-19 testing free for all, and provides food and medical aid to those in need.

“But so much more needs to be done. We need to make sure our medical providers have the equipment necessary to administer COVID-19 tests. We need to protect our small businesses and employees so they can make it through this tough time. We need personal protective equipment, respirators, ventilators, and more hospital beds. I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure that we are producing enough of the vital equipment necessary to keep healthcare professionals safe while we attempt to flatten the curve, and to pass additional legislation to support our workers, businesses, and economy.”

Representative Sherrill is working with local, state, and federal officials and organizations to help the people of New Jersey during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, she led members of the New Jersey delegation in a successful request for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) declaration from the U.S. Small Business Administration. New Jersey submitted its full application to the U.S. Small Business Administration and was awarded a declaration this evening.

Additionally, she joined with members of the New Jersey delegation today to support the state’s request for support from the U.S. Military and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to aid the ongoing effort to increase hospital beds and intensive care unit capacity. She also joined the New Jersey delegation in a letter urging the administration to approve New Jersey’s March 16th request for needed flexibility in its Medicaid program to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. A 1135 waiver allows the Secretary of Health and Human Services to waive or modify certain Medicare, Medicaid, and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) requirements to ensure that sufficient healthcare items and services are available to meet the needs of individuals affected by a national public health emergency like the COVID-19 pandemic.

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