WASHINGTON – Today, during a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) got Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Robert Redfield to commit to cover all costs associated with testing and treatment for COVID-19 on the record for the first time. In response to Redfield’s commitment, Congresswoman Pressley issued the following statement:

Congresswoman Pressley’s full exchange with Director Redfield can be viewed here.

“This is a public health crisis and we must confront it with every tool at our disposal. Coronavirus testing and treatment must be affordable and available to everyone to prevent the further spread of the pandemic. While CDC Director Redfield committed to covering the costs of both testing and treatment, I have little faith in this administration to make good on their promises. This crisis demands bold, urgent action, including swift passage and enactment of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which would help protect the health, safety and financial security of all families. I’ll continue to work in close partnership with my colleagues at every level of government to ensure that we are doing everything in our power to provide the resources, support, and information that Americans deserve to protect themselves and their families.”

Rep. Pressley is actively working to maximize the federal government’s assistance in combatting the spread and impact of COVID-19. Last month, Congresswoman Pressley sent a letter to the White House demanding that any COVID-19 vaccine or treatment be accessible, available, and affordable to all. Earlier this week, she sent a letter to the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) demanding information on how BOP plans to limit the spread of the virus in federal prisons. She also sent a letter to Vice President Mike Pence pushing back on the public charge rule as to not deter immigrants from seeking COVID-19 testing.  During a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee, she also asked Wells Fargo CEO Charles Scharf what the bank is doing to protect the physical and financial health of its employees and third-party contract workers in the wake of the outbreak.

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