Rep. Brenda Lawrence: “COVID-19 Has Been A Plague Over Our Country”
“Test, track and isolate,” is how to contain the coronavirus, according to Congresswoman Lawrence.
In an effort to stem the losses imposed by the coronavirus pandemic the federal government has already spent about six-trillion dollars in relief for individuals, small businesses and essential industries. Lawmakers are saying another installment of assistance is likely on the way, with Democrats in Congress insisting that states and local governments need an influx of cash to stave off budget disasters across the country.
Listen: Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence on the federal and local response to COVID-19.
Guest:
Rep. Brenda Lawrence, a Democrat representing Michigan’s 14th District, says testing in COVID-19 hotspots needs to ramp up in order to contain the virus. She says the country’s case numbers, as a whole, are still peaking and more needs to be done to track infections.
Lawrence is particularly concerned about the racial disparities being witnessed in COVID-19 outcomes. “We put into the language of CARES-2 that the CDC must collect data based on race,” she says.
Regarding the fiscal response to the pandemic, Lawrence says it’s important to provide funds to local governments, especially in places like Detroit. “We must get money to our local governments… Fire and police have to continue. In Detroit, the lack of revenue from our casinos is real,” says Lawrence.
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