WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today delivered remarks on the House floor in support of the nearly $8 billion emergency supplemental package for the U.S. response to the coronavirus.

Click here to watch Upton’s remarks.

Full remarks:

“Well, thank you, Madam Speaker. You know, this legislation is how this place is supposed to work. Real substance; forget the politics.

We have a real emergency - we really do. I want to thank leadership on both sides of the aisle for bringing this bill to the floor so quickly. You know, the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus met for an hour just yesterday at the White House to promise to work together - not only with the Administration, but with the Republicans and Democrats, House and Senate. Many of us in the last couple weeks have met with the HHS Secretary, CDC, FDA, NIH, as well as with our health leaders in our states.

This money is not only going to help our health officials on the front lines, but it's also going to help our families in virtually every community. And it's also going to help develop the vaccine and the therapeutics to save perhaps tens of thousands of lives. The cures legislation that most of us supported three years ago has laid the foundation to expedite the cures for so many illnesses, including this one.

This is a moment in time where we need to step up for the safety of our families, our communities, and our nation. I would urge all of my colleagues to support this money that is so desperately needed and get it to the President as quick as we can. With that I yield back the balance of my time.”