The legislation passed by the Senate yesterday reserves $30 billion in loans for small financial institutions that serve minority and distressed communities. This support builds on the Trump Administration’s work to protect African-American, Hispanic-American, and minority workers that have been hit hard by Coronavirus.
Part of that work is ensuring sufficient testing options for these populations. In the past month alone, the Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $1.4 billion to Community Health Centers—funding that is being used to address screening and testing needs, acquire medical supplies, and boost telehealth capacity in underserved areas.
The President also announced that he is directing the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, led by HUD Secretary Ben Carson, to focus its efforts on supporting distressed communities impacted by the Coronavirus. As part of its work, the Council will identify what additional funding is needed from Congress to best support these areas.
