Dear Friend, We know that news regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can be anxiety-provoking, especially for people living with cancer or those who are immunocompromised. We are committed to providing you up-to-date, evidence-based information at this time. We encourage you to visit cancersupportcommunity.org/coronavirus for new information, support resources, and more ways to stay informed and empowered. In the spirit of keeping you informed and empowered, this message is focused on Congress. As you may have seen, the U.S. Senate (following the lead of the U.S. House of Representatives) just passed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. President Trump is expected to quickly sign this bill into law. This follows an $8.3 billion aid package that was recently passed to help fund research and vaccine development. If passed into law, this multibillion-dollar emergency aid bill will provide rapid assistance on many fronts including: - Free COVID-19 testing: The bill would allow for free testing, emergency room visits, and doctor’s fees.
- Emergency paid sick days: The bill requires all employers to accrue seven days of paid sick leave and provide an additional 14 days to be available immediately. It ensures sick leave to people impacted by quarantine orders or those who must stay home to care for children. The bill provides funding to reimburse small businesses for these costs.
- Emergency paid leave: The bill would create a new paid leave program for workers unable to work because they are caring for a child due to COVID-19 related school closings. Eligible workers would receive benefits for a month (up to three months) and would receive two-thirds of a worker’s average monthly earnings.
- Expanded unemployment insurance: The bill will direct $2 billion to state unemployment insurance programs and waive certain requirements.
- Food assistance: The bill directs $1 billion in funding through the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program to provide emergency food assistance.
- State Medicaid funding increase tied to COVID-19
As eligibility requirements for these provisions vary, please view the Families First Coronavirus Response Act Summary for more details. What Happens Next? This bill is only one piece of an overall approach to addressing the challenges posed by COVID-19. Additional legislative actions will be taken, and CSC will provide you with ongoing updates and how these changes could impact you. Further, the Trump Administration is also considering an additional stimulus that might allow for emergency checks to be sent to Americans beginning as early as April 6. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, we just remind you that CSC is putting up-to-date resources related to COVID-19 in one place, cancersupportcommunity.org/coronavirus, for you to remain empowered by knowledge and supported by community. Please also know that our digital platform, MyLifeLine, is a principal way to help individuals establish a digital community to avoid isolation. In addition, we have added weekend hours to our CancerSupportHelpline® (888-793-9355) where licensed counselors are available to provide support and navigation services. Remember, we are all in this together—and we appreciate your sharing this information with your friends and family during this challenging time. | 
