U.S. PIRG URGES CONGRESS TO PASS COVID-19 PACKAGE NOW

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Matt Wellington

Former Director, Public Health Campaigns, PIRG

More money for testing and PPE necessary to get through the winter

U.S. PIRG

WASHINGTON — U.S. PIRG is urging Congress to immediately pass legislation to pay for key defenses against the rapidly worsening COVID-19 crisis in the United States, including testing and personal protective equipment (PPE). 

The U.S. PIRG Education Fund recently released a report that found that 20 percent of nursing homes lacked enough PPE six months into the pandemic. 

Matthew Wellington, U.S. PIRG’s public health campaigns director, released the following statement:

“Americans have sacrificed so much since March, but our leaders haven’t stepped up to meet that sacrifice. Our best defenses against COVID-19 are widespread testing and sufficient PPE, yet we still have nowhere near enough of either. 

“The crisis will likely worsen after millions of people travel across the country, ignoring the advice of medical experts, to gather for Thanksgiving. To stave off unnecessary suffering and death, Congress should immediately pass legislation that provides at least $75 billion to increase testing capacity in states. The legislation should also bolster PPE production by directing the Trump Administration to fully utilize the Defense Production Act.

“Failing to act now would risk lives, and livelihoods.”

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