Las Vegas, Nev. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) met with Caleb Cage, Nevada Director of COVID-19 Response, to discuss the work the Silver State is doing in coordination with local, tribal and federal entities to combat coronavirus. They also discussed the specific support that Nevada needs from Congress in the next coronavirus relief package.
“I’m proud of Nevada’s coordinated and comprehensive coronavirus response and all the state is doing to save lives, protect our most vulnerable and support workers and businesses as they navigate these unprecedented times. I’ll keep advocating in Congress to ensure that the next coronavirus relief legislation includes more funding for state and local governments, and prioritizes both the health and economic-wellbeing of hardworking Nevadans.”
BACKGROUND:
Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, over a billion dollars in funding has been distributed to Nevada state, tribal and local governments, small businesses, non-profit organizations, working families and individual Nevada taxpayers. Senators Cortez Masto and Rosen both voted for the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and supported additional measures to address public health needs, fund state and local governments and support programs for children, families and seniors. Some highlights of the funding distributed to Nevada to date that the Senators helped secure and have highlighted include:
- $241 million in direct cash payments to Medicare providers in the State of Nevada to assist in their response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- $88 million in grant funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be used for enhanced testing and contact tracing of coronavirus cases in Nevada.
- $70 million to health care providers and community health services across Nevada to address costs associated with the coronavirus pandemic.
- $32 million in funding for Nevada’s Child Care and Development Block Grant to help ensure Nevada families have child care options during this public health crisis.
- $30 million to fund Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA).
- $8 million to help meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities as communities implement measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
- $7.3 million to help state, local, and tribal law enforcement to respond to the coronavirus. Allowable projects and purchases include, but are not limited to, overtime, equipment (including law enforcement and medical personal protective equipment), hiring, supplies (such as gloves, masks, sanitizer), training, travel expenses, and addressing the medical needs of inmates in state, local, and tribal prisons, jails, and detention centers.
- $7.2 million in Centers for Disease Control (CDC) funding to help Nevada’s efforts to safely reopen through increased testing capacity and improved contact tracing.
- $6.5 million in federal funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support Nevada’s COVID-19 planning, preparedness and response through the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2020.
- $4.5 million to help Native American communities across Nevada maintain operations and funding for affordable housing programs during the coronavirus pandemic.
- $1 million to fund small rural hospitals working to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
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