WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) supported passage of a funding package to keep the federal government open and deliver another round of COVID-19 relief. Following the vote, Trahan called for negotiators to begin work on another assistance package that can be signed into law early next year.
“Working families in Massachusetts and across our nation have been in dire need of help for months. I voted for this package not because it meets their needs, but because a lack of partnership and compassion from Mitch McConnell combined with the inattention of a President focused exclusively on undermining a lawful election has forced us to choose between the bare minimum or no relief at all,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Congress must immediately begin work crafting a package similar to the CARES Act that actually delivers the level of relief that Americans and their families need.”
The COVID-19 relief contained in the package includes:
Direct Payments: $166 billion in direct payments of up to $600 per individual plus another $600 per child. The phase out will be the same as the first round of CARES Act payments: $75,000 for single filers and $150,000 for joint filers. This provision of the package also ensures that mixed-status families receive payments.
Enhanced Unemployment Benefit: Extends the Unemployment Insurance benefits available to workers laid off because the pandemic through March 14th and adds a $300 per week enhancement.
Vaccine Distribution and COVID-19 Testing: $20 billion to support the purchasing of COVID-19 vaccines, $9 billion for vaccine distribution, and $22 billion to support states with COVID-19 testing, contact tracing, and efforts to slow the spread of the virus. The package also includes requirements that portions of the funds be used specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color.
Food Assistance for Hungry Families: $13 billion in funding for SNAP to support a 15 percent increase for food stamp benefits. This provision and strengthened child nutrition benefits will help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure.
Rental Assistance: $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and extends the federal eviction moratorium.
Small Business Assistance: $284 billion for first and second forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loans, $20 billion for Economic Injury Disaster Loan program grants, $20 billion to directly assist minority owned small businesses and businesses in low-income communities, and $15 billion through the Save Our Stages Act for live venues, independent movie theaters and cultural institutions.
Keeping Workers Paid: Provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave to workers and improves the Employee Retention Tax Credit to help keep workers on payroll during COVID-19 induced closures or reduced revenue.
Education and child care: $54 billion to support public K-12 schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms. The package also includes $23 billion for a higher education fund and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care facilities open.
Broadband Access: The agreement invests $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic. This funding also includes $300 million to boost rural broadband and $250 million to boost people’s access to telehealth services.
Ends Surprise Billing: The package includes bipartisan, bicameral legislation that will end surprise billing for emergency and scheduled care.
Transit Aid: $14 billion for public transportation agencies, $10 billion in assistance for state highway authorities, $2 billion for airports, and $15 billion to keep airline workers on payroll.
The government funding package, which will fund government operations through Fiscal Year 2021, included a number of key provisions, including theLeonel Rondon Pipeline Safety Act,legislation authored by Trahan and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA) to prevent another tragedy like the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas pipeline explosions by strengthening pipeline safety by closing regulatory loopholes and increasing safety standards.
The funding portion also included:
Investments in Workforce Training: Recognizing the need to invest in workers because of the pandemic, the package provides $185 million for lucrative Registered Apprenticeships while also allocating funding to assist state unemployment agencies.
Servicemember Pay Raise: A much needed 3 percent boost in pay for servicemembers.
Strong Support for Veterans: Provides $90 billion for VA medical care, including homelessness assistance and suicide prevention and outreach.
Climate Action: Sweeping clean energy reforms, R&D enhancements, efficiency incentives, and extensions of clean energy tax credits to create hundreds of thousands of jobs across the clean economy. The package also phases out superpollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), positioning the U.S. to lead the world in avoiding up to 0.5 degree Celsius of global warming.
Protecting the Environment: Allocates $9.24 billion for the Environmental Protection Agency, an increase of $180 million, to ensure clean air and water, as well as to hold polluters accountable.
Expanded Access to Housing: For the first time, provides $43.4 million in new targeted vouchers to reduce homelessness among families with children, individuals, the unsheltered, veterans, and survivors of domestic violence.
Investments in Stopping Combined Sewer Overflows: For communities along the Merrimack River struggling with the cost of upgrading sewage and wastewater systems, the funding package allocates $40 million, an increase of $12 million from last year, for CSO grants.
Funding for Economic Development: Increases funding for the Economic Development Administration by $13 million, meaning communities in the Third District will be eligible for federal grants to revitalize their economies, create jobs, and get people back to work.
Support for Legal Aid: Rejects the President’s request to eliminate funding for the Legal Services Corporation and instead increases funding by $25 million to $465 million for the independent nonprofit to continue providing financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans.
Cleaner Rivers: Provides $3.925 million for the National Park Service’s Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers, a cooperative agreement between NPS and local governments, councils, watershed groups and non-governmental organizations that has benefited the Nashua River and Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers.
Community Action Partnership Agency Support: Contains $775 million for the Community Services Block Grant, an increase of $5 million, which allocates funding for community action partnership agencies in communities across the Third District.
Expanded Pell Grants: Makes it easier for students to predict their eligibility, which will make hundreds of thousands of students newly eligible for Pell and increase award amounts for millions of current Pell recipients.
Simplified FAFSA: Streamlines the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and makes it easier for students to apply and qualify for federal student aid. Also expands outreach and awareness activities to encourage FAFSA completion, with a focus on low-income students and families.
A section-by-section summary of the COVID-19 relief provisions can be accessed here. A section-by-section summary of the government funding provisions can be accessed here.
