Malinowski Votes for Updated COVID-19 Relief Legislation to Address the Growing Needs of the American People

Statement

Today, the House of Representatives passed an updated COVID-19 emergency funding package to provide relief to the American people. The $2.2 trillion relief bill is the latest attempt to negotiate a bipartisan consensus to provide desperately needed support for struggling families, essential workers, and hard-hit states like New Jersey. Representative Malinowski voted in favor of the legislation.

The bill includes support for state and local governments, funds for testing and tracing measures, key support for small business, and strengthened assistance for the American people. Among other provisions, the bill:

Supports small businesses, by improving the Paycheck Protection Program to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits, providing hard-hit businesses with second loan;
Offers Targeted Help for Restaurants, Bars, and Live Entertainment Venues, by providing grants to make up for revenue lost because of COVID;
Supports state and local government, through $436 billion to help state and local governments that are losing revenue to keep first responders and health workers on the job, while avoiding tax increases;
Provides funds to bolster education and child care, with $225 billion for education -- including $182 billion for K-12 schools and nearly $39 billion for postsecondary education -- and $57 billion to support child care for families;
Supports testing, tracing and treatment, through $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, with special attention to the disparities facing communities of color. The updated bill also includes $28 billion for procurement, distribution and education campaigns for a safe and effective vaccine;
Provides additional direct payments, with second round of economic impact payments of $1,200 per taxpayer and $500 per dependent;
Preserves health coverage, protecting Americans losing their employer-provided health insurance by making unemployed Americans automatically receive the maximum ACA subsidy on the exchanges, as well as a special enrollment period in the ACA exchanges for uninsured Americans;
Restores unemployment benefits, ensuring weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January and preventing unemployed workers from exhausting their eligibility; and
Safeguards our democracy, with new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate Census, and the preservation of the Postal Service.

"Since the House first passed the Heroes Act four months ago, the needs of my constituents have only grown," said Representative Malinowski. "With this new proposal, we have met Senate Republicans and the White House more than half way. It's past time for them to agree to get this done so we can get people the help they need."

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