Washington, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed an updated version of the HEROES ACT that would provide $2.2 trillion to beat the coronavirus pandemic and provide support to families, businesses, and states and localities.
“In our effort to jumpstart negotiations with the White House and Senate, the House has passed an updated version of our coronavirus aid package,” said Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04). “The crisis our country is facing requires substantial and ongoing intervention by the federal government or we are going to see more jobs lost, more businesses shuttered, and more families going hungry or losing their homes. We are coming to the negotiating table in good faith, and the American people demand that Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump do as well.”
If signed into law, the updated HEROES ACT would:
- Provide $436 billion to state and local governments to pay first responders and health care workers
- $225 billion to support the educational needs of states, school districts, and institutions of higher education in response to coronavirus
- Provide $75 billion for increased testing and contact tracing
- Restore $600/week increased unemployment assistance
- Commit to another round of direct payments of $1,200 per individual and $500 per child
- Includes 12-month nationwide moratorium on evictions and foreclosures
- Increase SNAP benefits for families that need food support
- Provide billions in assistance for renters and homeowners who are in danger of homelessness
- Secure $3.6 billion for grants to states for election security, including contingency planning, preparation, and resilience of elections for Federal office
- Give $12 billion to close the homework gap by providing funding for Wi-Fi hotspots and connected devices for students and library patrons
- ?Provide $4.5 billion for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); and
- Dedicate $15 billion for the Postal Service to backfill revenue forgone due to the coronavirus pandemic, plus language providing additional protections to Postal workers.
“Families, workers, and businesses need Congress to Act,” continued Himes. “The House has once more done its job, and we need the Senate and White House to meet us in good faith. Right now, they seem to be engaged in magical thinking, unrealistically hoping to get by without further significant investment. That approach doesn’t jibe with the facts on the ground. Let’s get it done and get a win for the American people.”
For more information or with any questions, contact Patrick Malone at Patrick.malone@mail.house.gov.
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