The Peru Gazette

From the office of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik

Washington, D.C.  – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has announced that she will vote in favor of House passage of the 4^th major legislative phase of Congress’ emergency coronavirus response later this afternoon. This most recent package will provide economic relief to small businesses, individuals, and families across the North Country.

“Throughout the past several months, I have consistently advocated for direct federal support for our hospitals and community health centers, small businesses, farmers, schools, individuals and families who have faced significant challenges in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “I have spoken with countless local elected officials, community leaders, and constituents to identify their specific needs and raise their issues at the federal level. As a result, this package that I will vote in favor of today prioritizes small businesses and families who need relief. After months of long negotiations, and Speaker Pelosi repeatedly refusing to come to the negotiating table, these important legislative results should have happened months ago. I remain focused on delivering results to the North Country that address this public health crisis and fuel a strong economic recovery.”

Specifically, the bill provides:

Support for Small Businesses

• $325 billion for small businesses, extending the Paycheck Protection Program and allowing small businesses to deduct expenses
  • $284.5 billion for PPP while providing a second round of PPP loans for the hardest-hit small businesses
  • Makes 501(c)(6) organizations, including local Chambers and destination marketing organizations, eligible for PPP
  • Creates a simplified PPP loan forgiveness application for loans under $150,000
  • Ensures borrowers will not have to deduct their EIDL Advance from their PPP loan forgiveness amount
  • $15 billion for live venues, movie theaters, and museums that are experiencing significant revenue loss, modeled after the Save our Stages legislation
  • $20 billion for new EIDL grants
  • Allows existing EIDL Advance grantees who received less than $10,000 to reapply for the difference between what they received and he maximum grant of $10,000

Direct Payments to Individuals and Families 

• $600 direct payments to the American people and $600 per dependent child, with the payments phasing out for individuals who make over $75,000 and couples making over $150,000
• Similar to the first round of payments, the vast majority of Americans will receive their payments automatically with the IRS basing payments on 2019 tax returns

Support for Vaccine Distribution and Other Healthcare Items 

• $68 billion for procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccine, testing and tracing, and mental health funding including:
  • $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 existing provider relief fund
• Includes a version of Congresswoman Stefanik’s Opioid Workforce Act to provide 1,000 new residency positions at teaching hospitals to promote physician-focused partnerships between rural and urban hospitals
• Protects patients from surprise medical bills while enhancing price transparency for medical services

Funding for Schools

• $82 billion for local school districts and higher education institutions to assist with safely restoring and continuing in-person learning.
  • $54.3 billion for K-12 schools through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, which will be allocated to states and local school districts based on Title I allocations
  • $22.7 billion for post-secondary institutions and students through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, to be distributed largely based on both an institution’s FTE and total Pell Grant recipients
  • $2.75 billion in separate funding designated for private K-12 schools

Assistance for Working Families

• $10 billion for child care assistance to working families and support for child care providers as they safely reopen and operate through the pandemic
• Temporarily increases SNAP benefits by 15% for six months while providing additional funding for Older Americans Act home-delivered meals for seniors, addressing pandemic-related food insecurity
• Includes Congresswoman Stefanik’s COVID-19 WIC Safety and Modernization Act, which will modernize the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) supplemental nutrition program and address issues of accessibility caused by the pandemic.
• Tax relief for small businesses and working families through an expansion of the Employee Retention Tax Credit, an extension of the FFCRA paid leave tax credits, and provisions to preserve the Earned Income and Child Tax Credit for families financially impacted by the pandemic
• Extends Unemployment Insurance eligibility, including the PUA coverage for gig workers and the self-employed, with an added $300 per week through March 14, 2021
• $25 billion for emergency rental assistance targeted to struggling families and an extension of the CDC eviction moratorium through January 31, 2021

Support for Farmers and Ag Businesses

• $13 billion in direct payments to farmers to help cover pandemic-induced losses
• Additional funding directed to programs that support local producers including new and beginning farmers, dairy producers, dairy processors via reimbursement for donated dairy products, small and medium-size meat producers, and state departments of agriculture

Funding for Infrastructure Needs 

• $45 billion for Transportation funding, including direct support to the motorcoach sector and MTA
• $7 billion in broadband funding, including:
  • Nearly $2 billion to replace foreign manufactured broadband equipment that poses national security threats
  • $3.2 billion for an FCC initiative to connect low-income Americans
  • $300 million to build out rural broadband
  • $250 million for the FCC telehealth grant program
  • Fully funds the Broadband DATA Act to improve FCC maps and precisely target areas that lack broadband access

Check the Congresswoman’s website here for a comprehensive overview of the package and for regular COVID-19 updates.