McKinley Supports Long Overdue COVID Relief Plan

Statement

Congressman David B. McKinley, P.E. (R-W.Va.) released the following statement after voting in support of the COVID-19 relief package and 2021 government funding bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives tonight:

"This critical relief is long overdue. I'm pleased Congress is finally moving past partisan bickering and gamesmanship to provide much-needed targeted relief for struggling families, small businesses, schools, and hospitals.

Much like the CARES Act helped us get through the initial months, this will help the country through the difficult winter months until the vaccine is widely available.

However, it is frustrating it came to this late hour just days before Christmas. This relief should have been passed months ago. Instead, Speaker Pelosi refused to budge from her multi-trillion dollar wish list and gambled it was better to wait until after the election so the Democrats could use this as an issue in the campaign.

In the end, this package will help people who are desperate for it. I'm particularly pleased it includes direct payments for American families -- even if the amount is lower than the bipartisan bill we proposed. The fact this individual assistance was included is in large part thanks to the pressure we, along with a bipartisan group of Senators and House members, were able to apply," said Rep. McKinley.

Background:

Earlier this month, McKinley introduced bipartisan legislation calling for immediate relief for families. The Coronavirus Assistance for American Families Act (H.R. 8893) would disburse Economic Impact Payments of $1,000 for both adults and children.

Highlights of the COVID relief package include:

Supporting our Working Families and Students

$600 stimulus checks per individual/child ($1200 per married couple).
o Uses the same eligibility as the CARES Act: capped at $75,000 gross adjusted income per individual ($150,000 for married couples).

o Only people with a valid SSN qualify, ending payments to the deceased and undocumented.

$10 billion in Child Care and Development Block Grant Program (CCDBG).
$82 billion for the Education Stabilization Fund for K-12 and higher education.
Providing Relief to our Small Businesses

$325 billion is assistance to small businesses.
Over $280 billion to reopen and strengthen the PPP program.
o Businesses under 300 employees and have had a 25% reduction in revenue are eligible for a second round.

o Increases the PPP loan amount for Restaurants and Hotels from 2.5x payroll to 3.5x, providing an extra month's worth of payroll support.

Creates a simplified PPP loan forgiveness application for loans under $150,000 dollars.
Allows employers to deduct PPP related businesses expenses.
Producing and Distributing a Cure

Nearly $20 billion for the production of vaccines and therapeutics, covering the cost for everyone who needs it.
$8.75 billion for distribution of vaccines. This includes cold chain, advance freezers, and supporting state efforts.
$3 billion for the national stockpile.
Expanding Rural Broadband to Underserved Americans

$300 million for broadband deployment program to support broadband infrastructure deployment to unserved areas, prioritizing unserved areas and rural areas.
$250 million to the FCC to carry out the telehealth pilot program authorized under the CARES Act
Providing Assistance and Flexibility to States

Extends the time period, from December 30, 2020 to December 31, 2021 for states to use previously allocated funds from the CARES Act. This allows more of the already distributed $150 billion in CARES Act funds to be utilized.
To read the bill click here.

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