Press Releases

LOWELL, MA – Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) concluded an American Rescue Plan swing through Marlborough and Hudson to highlight relief from the historic and long overdue COVID-19 package that she helped pass into law. Stops included the UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital Vaccine Facility and The Rail Trail Flatbread Co. in Hudson.

“Relief from the American Rescue Plan has already begun working its way into our communities, enabling us to get more shots into more arms, keep working families afloat, and helping small businesses stay open. It was great to tour Marlborough Hospital’s vaccine facility, which will directly benefit from robust federal investments in the production and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, tests, and personal protective equipment to support their heroic efforts to defeat this virus. I’m also incredibly proud to represent thousands of incredible small businesses like Rail Trail Flatbread Co. in Hudson that go above and beyond to serve their communities and keep their employees paid and on the job. We will get through this pandemic, and with the relief in the American Rescue Plan, we’ll be able to do everything possible to ensure no one is left behind,” said Congresswoman Lori Trahan.

As a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, Trahan has worked with community hospitals and health centers across the Third District to ensure they have the resources necessary to treat their patients, get shots into arms, and prioritize the safety of their heroic frontline workers. During her visit to Marlborough Hospital, she discussed with hospital President and CEO Steve Roach the importance of continued support from Washington for hospitals and making health care more accessible to families across the region.

“Marlborough Hospital is appreciative for the Covid relief support we have received at both the state and federal levels. It has enabled us to continue to care for our patients and the community during this historic pandemic,” said Marlborough Hospital President and CEO Steve Roach.

The American Rescue Plan allocated $20 billion to establish a National COVID-19 Vaccination Program and improve the administration and distribution of vaccinations. It also provided an additional $10 billion to boost domestic production of critical PPE, secure supply chains and increased capacity for vital vaccine production, and help onshore production of rapid COVID-19 tests needed at facilities like Marlborough Hospital. To ensure access to health care, the American Rescue Plan significantly expands the subsidies in the ACA Marketplaces to cover more middle-class families and to be more generous for those already receiving them. It also ensures that individuals on unemployment are able to access the marketplace and provides a 100 percent federal subsidy for individuals who lose their job and choose to use COBRA to continue their existing employer-sponsored health coverage.

A strong supporter of small businesses, Trahan proudly supported passage of President Biden’s American Rescue Plan, which included an additional $7.5 billion for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), established a $28 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund, funded another $15 billion in grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, and provided $10 billion to support up to $100 billion in small business financing through state government programs.

“The importance of community cannot be overstated as we are now over a year since the beginning of the covid pandemic. We now see a light at the end of the tunnel and having a clear line of communication with our local and state officials has been essential to navigating these rough waters. Representative Trahan has done a great job being there to listen and support small business this past year in name and in action. Her early support of The Restaurants Act and Mass Restaurants United shows that she understands the struggle we face and is ready and willing to help,” said Rail Trail Flatbread Co-Owners Michael Kasseris, Karim El- Gamal, and Jason Kleinerman.

Since the start of the pandemic, Trahan’s office has assisted more than 100 small businesses access relief through the Small Business Administration. She supported the creation of the PPP program, which has delivered more than $4.7 billion in relief through over 50,000 loans in the Commonwealth alone. Most recently, Trahan supported passage of the Paycheck Protection Program Extension Act, bipartisan legislation that extends the highly successful PPP program and enables small businesses to continue accessing much needed financial relief as they keep their doors open and serve their communities.

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