City Council Agenda and Packet 2021 04 13 SP

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the last COVID relief package that will reimburse those who have lost a loved one to COVID for many common funeral expenses. • FEMA Grant Programs: Emergency managers, firefighters, and governmental and non- governmental organizations such as food pantries and shelters have been on the frontlines of COVID-19 response across the country. These organizations have been strained by surges in need and demand for their help. The pandemic has increased operational costs, reduced capacity, and created shortfalls in many municipal budgets. The bill provides grant funding for the FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program; Emergency Management Performance Grants; Assistance to Firefighter Grants; and, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants. These resources will ensure that these critical frontline organizations will be able to continue to support COVID-19 response locally, provide vital services, deliver humanitarian relief, and maintain capacity to respond to other emergencies in their communities. • Oversight of COVID Relief Funding: Comprehensive oversight is needed to regain public trust and make sure federal dollars have been and continue to be spent responsibly. The bill supports the Government Accountability Office and the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, which was created in the CARES Act to provide oversight and keep Congress and the public informed about the unprecedented whole -of - government COVID-19 response and associated spending. • Federal Workforce Protections: Included in the bill are provisions to ensure the safety of the federal workforce as they battle on the frontlines of this unprecedented health crisis — from providing medical care to delivering our mail to safeguarding our national security. The bill creates an emergency fund to allow paid leave for workers who are ill or who have been exposed to COVID-19; this is an essential protection for preventing the spread of COVID-19 to colleagues and members of their communities. The bill also ensures federal employees who are diagnosed with COVID-19 as a result of their service can receive workers' compensation benefits, a measure that will support seriously ill workers with long-term complications, and allow their families to receive survivor benefits if their loved one has passed away. Additionally, the bill provides resources for testing and other measures to keep the President, Vice President, and other White House personnel safe. • Information Technology and Cyber Security. The bill provides $2 billion to equip federal agencies with modern technology and cybersecurity tools to effectively and securely deliver to the American public the services and benefits that Congress has provided to fight COVID-19. These funds will protect vaccine development and distribution, address the technology and security challenges that arose with the rapid shift to remote work, and better enable agencies to meet the high demand for services and accurate information from the American public. Title V - Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 11