WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today voted in support of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which passed the Senate with a vote of 96-0.

NOTE: View Senator Roberts’ remarks on the CARES Act passing here.

“The CARES Act provides one of the most powerful and timely economic relief packages in our nation’s history” said Sen. Roberts. “Responding to the challenge of the novel coronavirus will require a collective effort from our entire nation. The bill that passed the Senate today represents ideas from both sides of the political aisle but with a shared purpose: to deliver a necessary financial bridge to American households, workers, and businesses through the economic shock from COVID-19.

“The comprehensive relief package provides emergency checks to individuals and families; cash flow assistance to protect workers and small businesses; significantly expanded unemployment benefits and availability; financial assistance to severely distressed industries of the national economy; and increased funding for hospitals and healthcare providers.

The legislation includes S. 1089, the Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019 and the Priority Zoonotic Animal Drug designation, Senator Roberts’ zoonotic animal drug priority.

“I’m glad to see two of my key priorities included in the coronavirus legislation. The Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2019 will make it easier to purchase medications through health savings accounts, which will help stop the spread of the coronavirus by keeping those who are experiencing mild symptoms out of the doctor’s office,” said Sen. Roberts. “The Priority Zoonotic Animal Drug designation will help treat future zoonotic diseases, like the coronavirus, before they cause serious harm to humans.”

S. 1089 would allow people with mild symptoms to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications through a health savings account (HAS) without going to the doctor’s office. Currently, patients have to seek permission from their physician to purchase over-the-counter (OTC) medications with a health savings account. This will help increase social distancing to combat the coronavirus.

Senator Roberts’ zoonotic animal drug priority expedites Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of animal drugs that treat zoonotic and vector borne diseases, like the novel coronavirus, through a new designation.

More information on Senator Roberts’ priorities being included in the Phase III package can be found here.

As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Roberts worked to provide certainty and predictability through emergency assistance to farmers, ranchers, and all of rural America.

Agriculture, nutrition, and rural provisions in the CARES Act include additional emergency resources for:

·       USDA to support livestock producers. 

·       The Commodity Credit Corporation, to ensure USDA can continue implementing 2018 Farm Bill programs without delay.

·       Telemedicine, broadband connectivity, and business and industry loans.

·       Continued mandatory USDA inspection services, to ensure food safety and minimize food supply chain interruptions.

·       Child nutrition programs, schools, food banks, and families.

The CARES Act expands on unemployment benefits and creates a temporary Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program through December 31, 2020 to help those not traditionally eligible for UI (self-employed, independent contractors, those with limited work history, and others) who are unable to work as a direct result of the coronavirus public health emergency. It provides an additional payment to each recipient, supports states who pay individuals quickly, allows for additional weeks of unemployment benefits when deemed necessary, assists states in meeting critical staffing needs to get benefits out quickly and helps states maintain and establish programs to prevent layoffs during a downturn. 

For more information please visit Kansas Department of Labor here.

Watch Senator Roberts’ remarks available here.

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