May Newsletter

From the Office of
Representative James D. Gailliard
District 25


Volume 1, Issue 15
STANDING COMMITTEES
2019-2020

  • HEALTH
  • APPROPRIATIONS
  • APPROPRIATIONS EDUCATION
  • EDUCATION K-12
  • HOUSE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL SAFETY
Advocating for inclusive policies for Constituents in Nash County-Rocky Mount
COVID-19 Updates
Friends,
As of May 8th, 2020, we have 13,838 cases in North Carolina. There are 99 counties with cases. Nash County has 116 cases and Edgecombe County has 139 cases. There are 515 people hospitalized with COVID-19. We have confirmed 527 deaths for
North Carolina, with 3 reported in Nash County and 7 reported in Edgecombe County
Executive Order 138
Effective Friday, May 8th at 5pm

Phase 1 of 3:
Governor Cooper announced a modified stay at home order and transition to Phase 1 of easing restrictions. Governor Roy Cooper signed Executive Order No. 138 to modify North Carolina’s Stay At Home order and transition to Phase 1 of slowly easing certain COVID-19 restrictions. Certain businesses will remain closed. The Order removes the distinction between essential and non-essential businesses. Retail businesses are allowed to open at 50% capacity and will be required to direct customers to stand 6 feet apart, perform frequent cleanings, provide hand sanitizer when available, screen workers for symptoms, and more. The Order allows people to leave their homes for commercial activity at any business that is open. Certain businesses remain closed, including bars, personal care businesses, entertainment venues, and gyms. Restaurants may only continue to serve customers for drive-through, take out, and delivery.  The order is in effect until 5 pm on Friday, May 22. However, the end of this Order does not necessarily mean the state will move to Phase 2. Phase 2 will only start if data and indicators are in the right place. 
Recommendations from the NCDHHS to slow the spread of COVID-19
General Assembly - Committee Updates
Appropriations Committee - this committee discussed HB1038: Omnibus COVID-19 Respone Funds


Education Committee: this Committee discussed the Education Omnibus Bill that came from of our COVID-19 Education workgroup
Health Committee: this committee discussed the HB 1037  from the House Select COVID-19 Committee, Health Care Working Group


There are no additional updates on the other Committees for the month of April.


To follow up on daily updates on General Assembly News, visit ncleg.gov where you can learn more about proposed bills at session or new committees developed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Workgroups and Task Forces
Representative Gailliard serves on the following Workgroups at the General Assembly:

  • Agricultural and Rural Jobs
  • Broadband
  • Education Public Schools
  • Elections
  • Medicaid
Medicaid Workgroup- This workgroup discussed plans to expand Medicaid. HB1040, was created from this Workgroup to expand Medicaid in North Carolina and increase access to affordable health care for more than 500,000 North Carolinians. Representatives Gailliard, Batch, Brewer and Clark are primary sponsors on this bill.

There are no additional updates on the other Workgroups for the month of April.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic Representative Gailliard, was assigned to two task forces:

  • Developing a Representative and Inclusive Vision for Education (DRIVE) - this task force under the direction of Governor Roy Cooper, this task force will focus on improving equity and inclusion in education and to ensure quality in education. The task force is comprised of parents, educators, administrators, education advocates, representatives of state and local government, representatives from the University of North Carolina system and North Carolina Community College System, and employers with a presence in North Carolina

  • COVID-19 Large Gatherings Task Force Subgroup - a short-term workgroup Chaired by members of the COVID-19 Task Force and DHHS staff to devise a plan for the reopening of large gatherings in North Carolina that have been restricted as a result of COVID-19. Business leaders, faith based leaders and public health experts are included in this subgroup
General Assembly - Session
Session convened on April 28th and resulted in the passage of two bills last Saturday that addressed policy and funding. The first NC- specific COVID-19 Bills, totaling nearly 1.6 billion, were signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper earlier this week, to bring financial relief to our state.

You can read more details about the bills below:
COVID-19 News
COVID-19 could cost up to $654 billion or $163.4 billion, depending on the infection rate. Health Affairs, https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/pdf/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00426







Federal Action:






Representative James D. Gailliard
committed to:
The People of Nash County-Rocky Mount
Progressive solutions for Rural Issues
Principles that foster Common Sense Legislation