Congresswoman Susan Davis Votes for Further Aid for Small Businesses, Hospitals, and Funding for More Testing

Statement

While American families struggle financially as they continue to do their part to defeat the coronavirus, Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) voted for the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act to continue relief efforts for small businesses and hospitals while providing further funding for coronavirus testing. The $484 billion package passed the House, sending it to the President for his signature.

"This legislation provides critical resources for our constituents who are engaged in a sustained fight for their lives and livelihoods," said Rep. Davis. "It is a vast improvement over the inadequate plan proposed by the Senate majority two weeks ago. It now targets small businesses that don't have the same banking relationships as big corporations. It provides resources for hospitals and more testing that will be key to opening our economy. I wish we could have also helped states and local governments, but I am hopeful about statements from Republicans and the Administration on the need for this aid. The next relief package must also help our schools that are demonstrating their commitment to our children in this unprecedented time. More help for American families must be in the wings."

On April 9, the Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell proposed a one-line bill to just add $250 to the Paycheck Protection Program. Democrats offered an amendment with many of the proposals that ended up in the final bill only to have it blocked on the Senate floor.

Since then Democrats achieved an agreement that follows the path set by the bipartisan CARES Act:

-It strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in additional funding, with $30 billion reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions, and $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions. It expands small business support beyond PPP by securing $50 billion for SBA disaster lending, translating into more than $350 billion in loans, and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants.

-For hospitals and health care workers, the bill provides $75 billion to provide resources to the frontlines, including Personal Protective Equipment.

-It allocates $25 billion for testing, which is the key to reopening the economy and resuming our lives. The Administration has agreed to a national strategic testing policy that will focus on increasing domestic testing capacity including testing supplies.

Davis was disappointed that more funding for state and local governments on the front lines of this crisis was left out of the final bill. Cities and states desperately need an infusion of funds to pay the workers who keep Americans safe. Lives and well-being are threatened if health care, police, fire, EMS, teachers, and other vital workers do not have the support that they need.

In addition to more funding for schools, Davis has been pushing for any future relief packages to include help for the United States Postal Service. Davis is also fighting for greater assistance for nonprofits, including the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

Source