A third COVID-19 package, with about $2 trillion of relief for individuals, small businesses and the health care system, passed the U.S. House today and was signed into law.
U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids, D-3rd Dist., said several of the bill’s provisions will help Kansas residents.
She issued this statement:
“People in Kansas and across the country are hurting right now. Unemployment numbers in Kansas are skyrocketing, small business owners are struggling to keep their businesses afloat, and medical professionals are working around the clock to keep people healthy with limited supplies.
“While far from perfect, this bill is a bipartisan compromise that will provide some much-needed relief to medical professionals on the frontline, working people, families and small businesses. It contains several measures I advocated for, including expanded unemployment benefits, small business relief, and critical investments in our hospitals and health care professionals.
“I will push the Trump Administration to make sure we implement this relief immediately to help the health, safety, and economic security of our neighbors while providing accountability for the distribution of this aid. But this bill alone is not enough. Congress has much more work to do to help people in this country, and that’s what I’ll keep working towards.”
A few of the initiatives in this package that will affect Kansas:
• A $150 billion State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund: Creates a $150 billion State and Local Coronavirus Relief Fund to provide states and localities additional resources to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. It is estimated that Kansas will receive approximately $1.25 billion in desperately needed funds to benefit our state’s residents.
• $260 billion in dramatically expanded unemployment benefits: Includes numerous provisions to improve unemployment benefits including providing an additional $600 per week for the next four months, providing an additional 13 weeks of federally funded benefits, and expanding eligibility to include workers in the gig economy and self-employed workers.
• Immediate direct cash payments to lower and middle-income Americans: Provides for immediate, direct cash payments to lower-and middle-income Americans of $1,200 for each adult and $500 for each child, beginning to phase out at an annual income of $75,000 for an individual and $150,000 for a household. These payments will provide individuals with the cash they need right now to survive with much of the economy currently shut down.
• More than $375 billion in small business relief: Provides more than $375 billion in small business relief, including $349 billion for forgivable loans to small businesses to pay their employees and keep them on the payroll; $17 billion for debt relief for current and new SBA borrowers; and $10 billion in immediate disaster grants.
• Approximately $200 billion for hospitals, health care workers, and health research: Provides an investment of about $200 billion in hospitals, health systems, and health research, including expanding funding for the personal protective equipment desperately needed by health care workers, including ventilators, n95 masks, gowns and gloves.