NY-22 Minute: Brindisi's response to COVID-19 By Luke Perry
March was one of the most extraordinary months in modern American history. By month’s end, there were over 163,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus, more than anywhere in the world, and over, 3,000 Americans have died from the virus. 3.3 million people recently filed for unemployment, a record for a single week.
COVID-19 has upended the NY-22 campaign, like most other aspects of social life. New York postponed its Democratic primary to June 23. The state is currently at the epicenter of this global pandemic with over 1,000 people dead.
Rep. Anthony Brindisi self-quarantined after interacting with Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-4), who tested positive for COVID-19. His office has remained open for constituents, while Brindisi worked from home, regularly disseminating public health directives.
Brindisi held dedicated telephone town halls, visited with local media (examples here & here), wrote open letters to constituents, and digitally met with his constituent advisory councils.
Prior to quarantine, Brindisi met with Vice-President Mike Pence, Chair of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Brindisi was complimentary of federal aid to state and local health departments, while calling for increased testing capabilities.
Photo by Rep. Brindisi’s office
Brindisi voted for all three major pieces of bipartisan federal legislation responding to COVID-19.
The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act allocated $8.3 billion to help create a COVID-19 vaccine and support public health efforts by states and localities,
The Families First Coronavirus Response Act allocated $850 billion to provide free coronavirus testing, paid leave, and bolster food assistance and unemployment insurance. According to Brindisi, NY-22 received $33.7 million, distributed between eight counties in the district, with Oneida County receiving $11 million.
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act allocated $2.2 trillion toward economic stimulus and aid. Brindisi called for giving “the American people some certainty during what is otherwise a pretty uncertain time” and hoped “this stimulus package can help jump-start our economy once we move past the public health crisis that we’re in.”
Brindisi did not want to “repeat the mistakes of the past.” He advocated for aid to large industries be paid back and not used “for things like executive bonuses or stock buybacks.”
Brindisi contended the law supports working families through tax rebates, strengthening unemployment insurance to laid off workers, and enhancing food and housing assistance. He said small to medium size businesses will receive $350 billion in low-interest loans to maintain payroll, while hospitals and healthcare facilities will receive $100 billion in aid.
“We need to marshal all available resources to ensure that healthcare workers are not themselves sickened and are able to remain on the frontlines to combat this pandemic. This is especially true in upstate and Central New York, which are already facing a critical shortage of healthcare providers during this crisis.”
Brindisi has worked closely with neighboring House representatives in responding to the coronavirus. He and John Katko (R, NY-24) co-authored an op-ed in Syracuse.com that articulated three broad goals in advocating for the region.
1) “Provide families and individuals in our community with relief in these uncertain times.”
2) “Ensure relief for small businesses and the thousands of men and women that they employ.”
3) “Deliver the personal protective equipment, ventilators, and support that our healthcare providers and our hospitals require.”
Brindisi authored a letter to the White House with Katko on behalf of the entire New York House delegation requesting President Trump declare a natural disaster statewide, which he did.
Brindisi and Katko requested more medical supplies for New York hospitals from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including more ventilators.
Brindisi and Elise Stefanik (R, NY-21) urged the Department of Defense to retrofit old hospitals and buildings in Upstate New York to bolster medical capabilities in response to COVID-19.
“Our nation is at a critical point in the national response to the coronavirus pandemic. We know that the Department of Defense is working closely with other Departments and public health officials to respond to this crisis. We are particularly concerned with the shortage of hospital beds, certain medical supplies and personal protective equipment, and facilities to accommodate patients. We strongly encourage you to consider Upstate New York when deploying these resources, including communities across New York’s 21st and 22nd districts.”
President Trump recently extended physical distancing guidelines through April.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, head infectious disease expert on the White House Coronavirus Task Force, estimated that over 100,000 Americans could die from COVID.
Normalcy appears to be months away.
Luke Perry (@PolSciLukePerry) is Professor of Government at Utica College
Read the NY-22 Minute for timely and comprehensive analysis of the campaign
