Newsroom

The coronavirus outbreak prompted lawmakers to add language on using tests for new diseases during an emergency as part of their long-awaited diagnostic test bill.

Reps. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) and Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) released Thursday a bill to overhaul the regulation of diagnostics, culminating a three-and-a-half year effort to resolve differences among the various industries and federal agencies on how much oversight should be exercised over tests used to make treatment decisions.

Congress approved $8.3 billion in emergency funding to respond to the novel coronavirus at the local, state, federal and international levels.

The bill now heads to President Donald Trump, who is expected to sign the bill.

The Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Act includes more than $3 billion for research and development of vaccines and diagnostics; $2.2 billion for the Centers for Disease Control; $1 billion for state and local response efforts; and nearly $1 billion for procurement of medicine and medical supplies.

Coloradans who love concerts and sporting events say the cost of fees that come with those tickets are too much and can often keep them for actually attending because the final price is more than they can afford.

"I'm going to multiple shows every month so I'm looking to buy tickets very frequently," said Madalyn Dunn, a ticket buyer for venues in Denver. "I'm not sure where a lot of the fees go to, but they definitely can add up very quickly over multiple tickets."

U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette pressed hard on Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar about the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus Wednesday.

Azar was on a panel that testified about the deadly pandemic to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

"Who's in charge?" DeGette asked, slightly raising her voice.