FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 14, 2021

CONTACT: Kathy Melley, (617) 791-0708

(BOSTON, MA) – Tonight, the incoming Biden-Harris Administration released a $1.9 trillion COVID pandemic relief plan, part one of a two-phased plan to address the continued health and economic devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan prioritizes those who have been hardest hit by the dual health and economic crisis, especially Black and brown people, through critical investments in health care access and affordability, equitable vaccine distribution, and the housing, nutrition and income assistance people need to get through the crisis health and whole.

Statement of Emily Stewart, executive director of Community Catalyst, in response to the Biden-Harris Covid-19 relief plan:

“The Biden-Harris administration has put forward a robust Covid-relief plan that prioritizes equity and centers people and families, particularly Black and brown communities, who have disproportionately borne the brunt of pandemic. The launch of an aggressive national vaccination program would save lives by helping states ramp up efforts to quickly and equitably vaccinate their residents and contain the spread of the virus. And with millions of families still struggling to contend with the impact of job and insurance losses, we are particularly encouraged the plan makes much-needed investments to help people gain access to affordable health care through the Affordable Care Act marketplaces. We look forward to additional measures to expand affordable coverage, particularly for excluded populations in states that have yet to expand Medicaid, in the next phase of the administration’s COVID-response.

“It is a great relief that the incoming administration is focused on providing the support needed to recover and rebuild from the pandemic, and we look forward to working with them and Congress to push for additional policies to meet the needs of people and communities across the country.”

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About Community Catalyst 

Community Catalyst is a national, non-profit consumer advocacy organization founded in 1998 with the belief that affordable quality health care should be accessible to everyone. We work in partnership with national, state and local organizations, policymakers, and philanthropic foundations to ensure consumer interests are represented wherever important decisions about health and the health system are made: in communities, courtrooms, statehouses and on Capitol Hill. For more information, visit www.communitycatalyst.org. Follow us on Twitter @CommCatHealth.