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WASHINGTON— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) today unveiled the SNAP Online Purchasing Flexibility Act, a bill which would require the Secretary of Agriculture to allow all states that meet the necessary requirements to participate in the online purchasing program by allowing approved retail food stores to accept online transactions of SNAP benefits. The bill would expand the existing Department of Agriculture (USDA) SNAP online purchasing pilot program from 8 states to all states.

WASHINGTON— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) today introduced the Recovery Rebates Improvement Act and sent a letter to the Department of Treasury to request guidance on eligibility of recovery rebates. While the recently passed CARES Act provide millions of Americans with direct economic assistance, the bill leaves out many noncitizens and mixed status families—even if members of the family are citizens. The Recovery Rebates Improvement Act fixes the major error by expanding the special rule for the military in the CARES Act.

WASHINGTON— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) led Members of Congress on a series of letters to the CEOs of American companies today, calling on them to stop the use of forced labor of the Uyghur Muslim population in China. The Australian Strategic Policy Institute has painstakingly tracked both forced transfers of workers from Xinjiang to other parts of China, and the use of Uyghur labor in factories within Xinjiang.

WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Rep. Deb Haaland (D-MN) introduced the Suspend School Meal Debt Act today to require school food authorities and local educational agencies to stop collecting unpaid meal fees during the COVID–19 pandemic, providing much-needed relief for families across the nation. They were joined by original cosponsors Reps.

WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) sent a letter to the Treasury Department today calling for guidance to U.S. governors that ensures that the Coronavirus Relief Fund is distributed in a timely manner to cities with more than 50,000 residents and ensures that smaller communities do not get left behind.

WASHINGTON – Today, 34 members of the House and Senate sent a letter to President Trump asking his administration to end sanctions against Iran, as the nation copes with COVID-19. The letter was also endorsed by 13 signatory groups. In a particularly troubling development, the Trump administration levied additional sanctions against Iran on March 18. The full letter is attached.

MINNEAPOLIS—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after speaking with Holland America parent company Carnival Corporation & PLC about steps to provide medical care to passengers on board the Holland America cruise ship MS Zandaam. On Friday, four passengers were reported dead on the cruise ship. 138 have reported flu-like symptoms and two have now tested positive for COVID-19. There are at least six Minnesotans on Zandaam—four of whom are ill.