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Manchin: Work on Third Coronavirus Stimulus Package Needs to Start Now

Manchin

CHARLESTON — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said Thursday that Democratic leaders in the U.S. Senate are waiting on Republican leadership to show them the language for the third coronavirus package being proposed to provide relief to workers.

Manchin said Senate Democrats are waiting on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to let them see the package being worked on with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin

“Right now, the ball is in McConnel’s court,” Manchin said. “He has not shared anything with any Democrats that I know of so far.”

According to the Associated Press, a plan being developed by Mnuchin would include $1,000 in direct payments to individuals and $500 for each child, giving a family of four as much as $3,000 in direct payments. Once the plan is passed by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump, checks could go out as soon as April 6 with a second wave in May, possibly determined by income level to prevent checks going to individuals with means.

Manchin said he spoke with U.S. Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, about what proposals might be in the third package.

Manchin said the sooner the package is developed, the more ability Senate Democrats will have to negotiate the specifics of the package, which could cost more than $1 trillion.

“In this next package, it should be about American workers first,” Manchin said. “If those large corporations are still needing assistance, it can be in the form of a loan and not on the back of the taxpayers.”

The U.S. Senate passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Wednesday, an $850 billion relief package after the House of Representatives passed it last week. The act includes paid sick leave and family leave, $1 billion in grants and loans to assist with unemployment insurance, funding for food assistance and unemployment compensation benefits, and free testing and coverage related to coronavirus testing.

Congress also passed the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act during the first week of March. The $8.3 billion package including funding for research and development of a vaccine for COVID-19, as well as funding for medical supplies and other health care needs.

Even with this additional funding, Manchin said there are still shortages of needed supplies, such as testing supplies, masks, gowns and other supplies. West Virginia at one point requested more than 155,000 masks and only received 2,200 and no surgical masks.

“Everybody needs test kits, everybody is running short,” Manchin said. “I’m raising Cain about having ventilators and respirators. We don’t have nearly enough and we’re doing everything we can to raise the profile of West Virginia.”

Another issue for Manchin is the rate of testing. Manchin said 90 West Virginians have called his office Thursday reporting symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, cough and shortness of breath – but have been unable to get tested. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, West Virginia has the highest percentage of its population that are most susceptible to COVID-19. Manchin said he has been on the phone with Vice President Mike Pence and officials with the coronavirus task force.

“I’ve been raising holy Cain about not having the testing we need,” Manchin said. “We’re on the front line and if something happens in our state, it could be carnage. It could be absolutely devastating because of our aged population and the wellness of our population.”

“I’m advocating for people to contact my office and let me know…who needs the test,” Manchinsaid. “We’ll fight like the dickens and make sure there is a place in their area where we can get them tested.”

Manchin said that there is no reason for any medical hospital in the state to be closed during this crisis. Manchin has been in touch with Alecto: the owners of Fairmont Regional General Hospital, which closed for good Thursday night; and the Ohio Valley Medical Center in Wheeling, which has been closed since last year. Manchin said an inventory of both hospitals was being done to see about opening possibly FRMC with the help of WVU Medicine in case extra beds are needed.

“They will keep that and close it in a condition that if in an emergency we need additional healthcare because of this pandemic, it will be able to be open,” Manchin said. “WVU said they would step in and open it immediately to give care that is needed in an emergency.”

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