Rep. Zeldin Calls For Urgent Congressional Action on 3 Vital Coronavirus Funding Priorities

Statement

Today, Congressman Lee Zeldin (R, NY-1), member of the bipartisan White House Opening Up America Again Congressional Group and bipartisan Congressional Coronavirus Task Force, issued the following statement calling for urgent Congressional action on three vital coronavirus response priorities:

Replenishing funds for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) Program to help small businesses survive the pandemic;

Appropriating additional funding targeted to hardest hit medical providers;

Expanding direct funding for state and local governments based on greatest need due to coronavirus related expenditures.

Simultaneously, Congressman Zeldin called on Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar to immediately target additional CARES Act funding to U.S. hot spots, like downstate New York, including Long Island, and better factor in revenue losses when deciding on funding formulas for direct payments to medical providers.

"Vital funding for our nation's small businesses has run dry and needs to be immediately replenished. While a Phase IV bill also continues to be negotiated for consideration, it's important to very strongly consider that our states, local governments and medical facilities hardest hit - like we have experienced in the worst way in New York - are desperate for additional federal resources to finish the battle against coronavirus, and Congress must act right away, without any further delay, to answer this plea. Additionally, I am also very strongly urging Secretary Azar to immediately release CARES Act funding to the hardest hit medical providers in America and better factor in revenue losses when further deciding on funding formulas."

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