Blumenthal Applauds President Biden's Executive Actions to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic and Economic Crisis

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) applauded the executive actions President Joe Biden will take today to address the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis:

“President Biden understands the gravity of the crisis our country is in because of the COVID-19 pandemic and is stepping up to steer us out of it.”

“The newly-created COVID-19 Response Coordinator will jump-start a whole-of-government response to tackle this crisis and ensure we are in the right position to prevent future pandemics. Extending eviction and foreclosure moratoriums will help Americans keep roofs over their heads, avoiding an even worse housing catastrophe. With the extension of a pause on federal student loan payments, Americans will not be forced to make the gut wrenching choice between putting food on the table or paying down their student loans.”

“President Biden has taken these necessary first steps to provide immediate relief to Americans and set our country on the right path toward recovery. Congress must follow suit, working with the Biden Administration on another comprehensive stimulus to deliver further help to Americans during this historic health and economic crisis.”

Today, President Biden will take several executive actions to address the COVID-19 pandemic and provide relief to Americans, including:

Creating the Position of COVID-19 Response Coordinator: President Biden will sign an Executive Order creating the new position of COVID-19 Response Coordinator. This coordinator will report directly to President Biden and will be in charge of coordinating all aspects of the COVID-19 response across the government. This will include managing efforts to produce, supply, and distribute personal protective equipment, vaccines, and tests. The Executive Order will also restore the NSC Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense to focus on domestic and global biological threats, work to stop the COVID-19 pandemic, and prevent future pandemics.

Extending Eviction and Foreclosure Moratoriums: President Biden will ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to consider extending the federal eviction moratorium until at least March 31, 2021, and will call on Congress to provide rental assistance as well as a further extension of the moratorium. President Biden will also ask the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, and Housing and Urban Development to consider extending foreclosure moratoriums for federally guaranteed mortgages and continuing applications for forbearance for federally guaranteed mortgages until at least March 31, 2021. President Biden will also call on the Federal Housing Finance Agency to extend foreclosure moratoriums beyond the current deadline of February 28, 2021, and to continue forbearance applications for all loans guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Extending the Pause on Student Loan Payments: President Biden will ask the Department of Education to consider an immediate extension on the pause on interest and principal payments for direct federal student loans until at least September 30, 2021.

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