Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Michael Waltz (R-Fla.) voted in favor of an emergency supplemental funding package to respond to the coronavirus outbreak in the United States. The measure passed by a vote of 415-2.

“As always, our job as elected officials is to provide for our constituents and their safety, so I’m glad Congress is acting on this issue,” Waltz said.

The $8.3 billion emergency supplemental funding package includes more than $3 billion to increase availability of coronavirus diagnostic tests and to invest in vaccine development.

Approximately $2.2 billion of the package includes funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including funding to prevent, prepare for and respond to diseases.

Wednesday’s package came on the heels of an additional $500,000 to Florida from the CDC for coronavirus treatment and prevention.

On Sunday, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a Public Health Emergency in Florida after confirming the state’s first two “presumptive” cases of COVID-19 in Hillsborough and Manatee Counties. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially confirmed the cases Monday afternoon and a third person tested presumptively positive for the virus on Tuesday.

“With the coronavirus spreading around our state and country, it’s critical these departments and our states have every resource available to prevent further infections and protect America against this virus,” Waltz said.