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Learn MoreFeb 9, 2021
Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA-29) has released a summary of his proposed $1 billion dollar COVID-19 relief package. The Health Equity Access, Resources and Treatment (HEART) Package includes nine bills, including bills Rep. Cardenas previously introduced and bills he is planning to introduce, that will address the racial health inequities exacerbated by the pandemic and targets relief for vulnerable and underserved communities.
Below is a summary of each of the bills that make up the HEART Package that Rep. Cardenas intends to introduce over the course of the next couple weeks:
Health Equity
Behavioral Health
Nutrition
Rep. Cardenas has been working with other Democratic caucus members, including Reps. Yvette Clarke (D-NY-9) and Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36) as well as Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Michael Bennet (D-CO) and Ben Ray Lujan (D-NM).
It is unclear whether Democratic leadership will adopt parts or all of this proposal, noting specifically that its scope is about half of the $1.9 trillion dollars package the White House and Congressional Democratic leadership are currently supporting.
President Biden, however, has made health equity a focus of his Administration, including establishing a Health Equity Taskforce to address racial and ethnic disparities in access to care. Therefore, it is possible that aspects of the HEART Package will be incorporated into the next COVID-19 relief package, especially the proposals that addresses health inequities in vulnerable communities.
If you have questions or would like to become involved in ACA’s advocacy efforts, please contact the ACA Government Affairs and Public Policy team at advocacy@counseling.org.
The most significant benefit of my membership in the American Counseling Association (ACA) lies in its remarkable efforts to enhance the credibility of counselors in the field. The ACA's successful initiatives, such as advocating for counselors to be recognized as Medicare providers and working on the counseling compact, have greatly contributed to this.
Eric Rodgers, LPC