Re: We Really Need Free PCR Accessible Tests for All (fwd)

[Noelle <noelle>]

 > From: "Senator Alex Padilla" <http://www.padilla.senate.gov/~Senator_Padilla>
 > Date: 19 Jul 2023 15:04:46 -0400
 > 
 >  Dear Mrs.,
 > 
 >  Thank you for writing to share your thoughts regarding the COVID-19 
 >  pandemic. I appreciate hearing from you. 
 > 
 >  I share your concerns regarding pandemic preparedness. That is why I was 
 >  proud to vote for the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (Public Law 
 >  117-328), which President Biden signed into law on December 29, 2022. 
 >  This law provided essential funding for public health infrastructure 
 >  programs, including establishing the Centers for Public Health Preparedness 
 >  and Response, modernizing the Strategic National Stockpile, increasing 
 >  biosecurity measures, and expanding public health workforce programs .
 > 
 >  I was also proud to vote for the American Rescue Plan Act  ( ARP , Public 
 >  Law 117-2), which President Biden signed   into law on March 11, 2021. This 
 >  critical legislation has brought life-saving relief to millions of 
 >  Americans and provided billions of dollars for vaccines, testing, and 
 >  tracing. It strengthened Ca&rsquo;s public health system by funding 
 >  programs like the National Health Service Corps and community health 
 >  centers. The law also provided the Centers for Disease Control and 
 >  Prevention with $1.75 billion to expand work on the sequencing of COVID-19 
 >  and its variants, as well as funding to combat emerging infectious diseases 
 >  globally.
 > 
 >  This pandemic has shined a light on the many underlying inequities within 
 >  our country, and I believe we must use this opportunity to rebuild our 
 >  nation&rsquo;s infrastructure, strengthen the middle class, support our 
 >  nation&rsquo;s children and families, and ensure our economic 
 >  competitiveness for generations to come. Please know that I appreciate 
 >  hearing your perspective on this issue, and I will continue to support 
 >  policies that help promote a full recovery and help us build toward a more 
 >  equitable future. 
 > 
 >  Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or 
 >  comments, please call my Washington, D.C. office at (202) 224-3553 or visit 
 >  my website at  padilla.senate.gov 
 > 
 >  Sincerely,
 > 
 >  Alex Padilla
 >  United States Senator