Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.

Less than a month ago, I stood on this floor and urged my colleagues to support our small businesses by passing the CARES Act. Today, I am here again asking the House to pass this bill and get it to the President's desk so we can give our small businesses and healthcare providers the additional assistance they need.

This bill provides an extra $75 billion to our hospitals and $25 billion for expanded testing capacity, with resources specifically set aside for community health centers and rural health clinics. These additional funds will have a dramatic impact in rural areas like Michigan's First District, where access to testing has lagged and our rural healthcare facilities are struggling to keep their doors open.

This legislation also refills the Paycheck Protection Program, critical for the Upper Peninsula and northern Michigan's small businesses. This temporary, targeted relief is our opportunity to send a strong message to our Main Street businesses that we want them to be able to open their doors when it is time to open our economy back up.

I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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