Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) Hails Passage Of Emergency Relief Package

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) hailed the House passage of the interim relief package which includes increased funding for small businesses, hospitals, and testing. Today's bill provides immediate interim support and reflects significant improvements over the initial Senate GOP bill.

This interim relief package:

• Secures an additional $50 billion for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs), translating into more than $350 billion in loans, and another $10 billion in EIDL grants.
• Expands the HHS coronavirus relief fund for health care providers by another $75 billion to provide resources and support to the institutions and workers on the frontlines.
• Significantly lowers the interest rate on advance payments, lengthening the repayment schedule and distributing payments from general revenues not the Hospital Insurance Fund.
• Secures $25 billion for testing, which is the key to reopening the economy and resuming our lives.
• That includes more funding that goes directly to states, community health centers, and rural health clinics so that those on the frontlines keeping Americans healthy and fighting this pandemic have the resources they need.
• Requires the administration to develop a national strategic testing policy that will focus on increasing domestic testing capacity including testing supplies.

"I am proud to support the passage of this legislation that will help our brave frontline health care workers, our nation's small businesses and bolster COVID-19 testing during these unprecedented times," said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33). "Today's legislation is a critical step forward and we must keep working together to pass more legislation that will continue to help North Texas families and workers get through this pandemic."

The Senate has already passed the measure and the bill is expected to be signed by the President. This interim package will supplement previous packages including the sweeping Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES) passed last month. For additional information on how our office can help during this time, visit my Coronavirus Information page here.