Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) Votes for Bipartisan COVID-19 Relief, Government Funding Package

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Late last night, Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33) voted to pass a bipartisan COVID relief package. The relief package was included with bipartisan Appropriations bills which will fund the government through September 30, 2021. The package provides funding for vaccine distribution, more aid to small businesses, assistance for airline industry workers, expands unemployment benefits and includes critical provisions from Veasey-led legislation that will bolster affordable access to broadband. Additionally, the House passed an omnibus spending bill consisting of all 12 fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills—including provisions from Veasey-led legislation advancing carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies.

"Our country is in a deadly pandemic right now and North Texas families are struggling through no fault of their own," said Congressman Marc Veasey (TX-33). "For months, Republicans in Congress have refused to accept this reality and work with us to pass legislation like the Heroes Act that would have delivered critical relief to American families. I am proud we finally reached an agreement that is now going to the President's desk to be signed into law because Americans are facing a multitude of problems right now. While there is no doubt that this emergency coronavirus relief legislation falls far short of meaningfully addressing our numerous priorities, like ensuring higher direct stimulus payments that Democrats have previously championed–this package is an essential step forward to provide people across our country immediate relief as we go into the holiday season. Congress must work with the incoming Administration to build on this package to ensure the lives and livelihoods of all Americans are protected as we weather this crisis."

The expansive COVID-19 relief and government funding package includes these critical provisions that will help Texas families:

• Accelerates vaccine distribution: The package provides billions in urgently needed funds to accelerate the free and equitable distribution of safe vaccines to as many Americans as possible as soon as possible, implements a strong national testing and tracing strategy with billions reserved specifically for combating the disparities facing communities of color and supports our heroic health care workers and providers.
• Provides strong support for small business: The agreement includes over $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans, including important changes to make the program work better for restaurants. It also includes $15 billion in dedicated funding for live venues, independent movie theaters, and cultural institutions and $20 billion for targeted EIDL Grants which are critical to many smaller businesses on Main Street.
• Provides additional direct payments: The package provides a new round of economic impact payments worth up to $600 per adult and child, including mixed status families like many of those in Texas' 33^rd district.
• Restores enhanced Unemployment Insurance benefits: The agreement adds $300 per week in UI enhancement, providing a vital safety net for the record number of Americans who are unemployed, including those connected to the gig-economy and independent contractors.
• Extends rental assistance: The package provides $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and extends the eviction moratorium.
• Provides additional assistance for airline industry workers: The agreement provides an additional $15 billion in payroll support to airlines and restores jobs for thousands of furloughed airline industry workers.
• Supports paid sick leave: The agreement provides a tax credit to support employers offering paid sick leave, based on the Families First framework.
• Delivers More Affordable Broadband Access: The agreement invests $7 billion to increase access to broadband, including a new Emergency Broadband Benefit to help millions of students, families and unemployed workers afford the broadband they need during the pandemic.
• Provides nutrition assistance for hungry families: The agreement includes $13 billion for SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure.
• Supports our schools and child care providers: The agreement provides $82 billion in funding for colleges and schools, including support for HVAC repair and replacement to mitigate virus transmission and reopen classrooms and $10 billion for child care assistance to help get parents back to work and keep child care providers open.
• Strengthens Earned Income Tax Credit & Child Tax Credit: The agreement helps ensure that families who faced unemployment or reduced wages during the pandemic are able to receive a strong tax credit based on their 2019 income, preserving these vital income supports for vulnerable families.

See the summary of the COVID relief package from the Appropriations Committee here.