Kansas congressman says he’ll miss coronavirus aid vote to volunteer in clinic
Rep. Roger Marshall says he will miss an expected vote on a bill to shore up small businesses this week to volunteer in a Wyandotte County clinic treating COVID-19 patients.
The U.S. House is expected this week to take up a measure that will provide $320 billion in additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses after money ran out last week and $175 billion in aid to hospitals and health care providers.
“I hate missing a vote, but I know it will pass, and I know I am most urgently needed in hospitals and clinics,” the Kansas Republican said in a statement.
The bill, which passed the Senate unanimously, is expected to pass the House by a wide margin.
Marshall, an OB-GYN who represents western Kansas, is running for the U.S. Senate.
He began volunteering Wednesday at Swope Health Wyandotte, a health center in Kansas City, Kansas, to test and treat possible and confirmed coronavirus patients.
Wyandotte has been the Kansas county hardest hit by the pandemic, with 471 of the state’s 2,221 cases as of 1 p.m. Wednesday.
“I am honored to stand with my fellow health professionals who have been on the front lines of fighting this pandemic since day one,” Marshall.
The bill that the House will vote on this week will provide additional money for states to expand testing, something Kansas officials have been calling for since March. Kansas is expected to receive at least $21 million for testing, while Missouri will get at least $35 million.
This story was originally published April 22, 2020 at 1:48 PM.
