RELIEF COMING TO AMERICANS AS PART OF PACKAGE NEGOTIATED BY BACON AND PROBLEM SOLVERS
Washington, D.C. –Congressman Don Bacon (NE-02) and the Problem Solvers Caucus led the way in providing relief to Americans who are hurting because of COVID. The Bipartisan Emergency COVID relief Act of 2020 consists of $892billion of emergency assistance for American families, workers, and small businesses and uses $560billion in previously unspent CARES Act money.
Republicans stayed united and focused on targeted relief to small businesses, making Operation Warp Speed vaccines available, and reopening school and the economy and this package delivers on those goals. The final package does not include bailouts for states who were in financial trouble before COVID, checks for illegal immigrants, and federal prisoner release.
“I’m proud to be a part of the Problem Solvers Caucus that broke the logjam on this COVID supplemental,” said Rep. Bacon. “Our mission is to break the gridlock and we succeeded here, and Americans are better off for the efforts. The bill we voted on today was initiated by the Problem Solvers over a month ago.”
“There is real relief in the package, and I am especially pleased that our live entertainment venues will be able to receive assistance as they have been significantly hurt by lockdowns and other restrictions,” added Rep. Bacon. “I advocated for Omaha entertainment venue operators and am pleased to deliver these results.”
In addition to the $15 billion for entertainment venues, movie theaters, and museums, other highlights include:
COVID Relief:
Extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and adds deductibility for PPP expenses; gives businesses experiencing severe revenue reductions an opportunity to apply for a second draw PPP loan, includes 501(c)(6) organizations, and codifies federal rules that ensure churches and faith-based organizations are eligible for PPP loans
Reopening America through the allocation of $20 billion for purchase of vaccines that will make the vaccine available at no charge for anyone who needs it; $8 billion for vaccine distribution; $20 billion to assist states with testing; $20 billion distribution from an existing provider relief fund
Ends CARES Act emergency powers for the Federal Reserve rescinds $429 billion in unused funds provided by the CARES Act for the Federal Reserve’s emergency lending facilities and terminates these facilities to ensure that Democrats cannot use these funds to bail out poorly managed blue states
Stimulus checks -- $600 for both adults and dependents with safeguards to prohibit illegal aliens from receiving payment
Provide unemployed individuals an additional $300 per week for 10 weeks from December 26, 2020-March 14, 2021and extends and phases-out PUA, which is a temporary federal program covering self-employed and gig workers, to March 14 (after which no new applicants) through April 5, 2021
$10 billion for grants to childcare centers to help providers safely reopen
$82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening for in-person learning that also includes $2.75 billion in designated funds for private K through 12 education
$25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistance for individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic and extends the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021
