SENATE BILL: Further efforts in pandemic fighting Act (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

SENATE BILL

To put more effort into fighting the COVID-19 pandemic

Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress Assembled,

Section 1: Name
1. This bill may be referred to as the "Further efforts in pandemic fighting Act"

Section 2: Findings
Congress finds the following:
1. That hospitals in states like Washington, New York and New Jersey have reached or are close to reaching their maximum capacity
2. That the curve of contagions is gradually flattening
3. That testing must be increased and become more widespread before the economy can reopen

Section 3: Actions to take

1. Congress hereby authorizes and encourages the opening of temporary field hospitals in non-healthcare related venues in order to treat the excess amount of cases. States begin building open these when hospitals in a certain county are at 80% of their capacity and open them when hospitals are at 90% of their capacity.
2. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as to reduce or ignore safety or hygenic standards as they may be prescribed by law
3. The government of Atlasia hereby encourages and promotes states and regions to ramp up testing in order to better trace contagions.
4. 300$ million shall be appropiated as grants to the states and regions for the regional and state governments to pursue the objectives established in this bill

Section 4: Enactment
1. This bill shall become enacted immediately after passage

Sponsor: Tack50
Senate Designation: SB24:05

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Initial Debate period commencing, 24 hours for sponsor, 48 hours for everyone else.

[Former President tack50]

Basically introducing this bill as a response to the latest GM report. This is a fairly straightforward bill to keep fighting against the recent coronavirus pandemic that would expand testing and allow states that are at risk of reaching their peak hospital capacity to create field hospitals if needed in order to treat patients.

I surely hope the field hospitals are not necessary; but testing must be widespread before the economy can reopen and anything we can do to expand it is a good thing

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Are people cool with moving to an immediate final vote. We have taken this approach with most of the Covid bills so far and most of this is straightforward, as the sponsor said dealing with testing and bed capacity, all of which are of vital importance to the pandemic.

Just in case we can, I am going to motion for a Final Vote, Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

No objections.

[YE]

No objections but $300 million seems quite lax to me.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

If we want to change something, just do it quickly.

[Former President tack50]

If we want to change something, just do it quickly.

Also we should notify Thumb if something is changed so he can also amend the relevant House bill

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

If we want to change something, just do it quickly.

Also we should notify Thumb if something is changed so he can also amend the relevant House bill

Yes Certainly!!!

[Former President tack50]

No objections but $300 million seems quite lax to me.

What amount would be appropiate? Maybe something of the order of 750$ million?

[YE]

Was thinking a few billion.

[Former President tack50]

For some reason I think that would be too high, but I suppose we don't need to spend all the money if we don't actually need to (plus they are grants anyways). Presenting the following amendment:

SENATE BILL

To put more effort into fighting the COVID-19 pandemic

Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress Assembled,

Section 1: Name
1. This bill may be referred to as the "Further efforts in pandemic fighting Act"

Section 2: Findings
Congress finds the following:
1. That hospitals in states like Washington, New York and New Jersey have reached or are close to reaching their maximum capacity
2. That the curve of contagions is gradually flattening
3. That testing must be increased and become more widespread before the economy can reopen

Section 3: Actions to take

1. Congress hereby authorizes and encourages the opening of temporary field hospitals in non-healthcare related venues in order to treat the excess amount of cases. States begin building open these when hospitals in a certain county are at 80% of their capacity and open them when hospitals are at 90% of their capacity.
2. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as to reduce or ignore safety or hygenic standards as they may be prescribed by law
3. The government of Atlasia hereby encourages and promotes states and regions to ramp up testing in order to better trace contagions.
4. 300$ million $2 billion shall be appropiated as grants to the states and regions for the regional and state governments to pursue the objectives established in this bill

Section 4: Enactment
1. This bill shall become enacted immediately after passage

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Esteemed Jimmy]

No objections.

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

I posted similar comments in the corresponding House thread, but it seems there is an ambiguity in Section 3.1. Should 'hospitals in a certain county are at 80% of their capacity' be taken to mean that construction should commence when all hospitals in a county are individually above 80% occupancy, or when 80% of beds in a county are occupied?

I also think it would be better to do away with the blanket requirement of 80%/90% entirely and let the states/regions/localities allocate these funds according to need.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has been adopted.

[Former President tack50]

Introducing the following amendment to apply Encke's suggestion. Honestly Encke's idea makes more sense, let's just let states and counties do whatever they feel is appropiate:

SENATE BILL

To put more effort into fighting the COVID-19 pandemic

Be it enacted in both Houses of Congress Assembled,

Section 1: Name
1. This bill may be referred to as the "Further efforts in pandemic fighting Act"

Section 2: Findings
Congress finds the following:
1. That hospitals in states like Washington, New York and New Jersey have reached or are close to reaching their maximum capacity
2. That the curve of contagions is gradually flattening
3. That testing must be increased and become more widespread before the economy can reopen

Section 3: Actions to take

1. Congress hereby authorizes and encourages the opening of temporary field hospitals in non-healthcare related venues in order to treat the excess amount of cases. States begin building open these when hospitals in a certain county are at 80% of their capacity and open them when hospitals are at 90% of their capacity.
2. Nothing in this bill shall be construed as to reduce or ignore safety or hygenic standards as they may be prescribed by law
3. The government of Atlasia hereby encourages and promotes states and regions to ramp up testing in order to better trace contagions.
4. $2 billion shall be appropiated as grants to the states and regions for the regional and state governments to pursue the objectives established in this bill

Section 4: Enactment
1. This bill shall become enacted immediately after passage

[Esteemed Jimmy]

I support the amendment.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has adopted and the 24 hours for objections to the final vote has as well. So I can open a vote at any time.

Has the house made any other changes that we need to consider before we vote?

[Fmr. Representative Encke]

Has the house made any other changes that we need to consider before we vote?

Nope.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

A final vote is now open on this legislation, Senators please vote Aye, Nay or Abstain.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

[Esteemed Jimmy]

Aye

[YE]

Aye