Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019
Floor Speech
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT
Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 266) making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the Senate amendment is as follows:
Senate amendment:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. TABLE OF CONTENTS.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title. Sec. 2. Table of contents. Sec. 3. References. DIVISION A--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS Sec. 101. Amendments to the Paycheck Protection Program, economic injury disaster loans, and emergency grants. Sec. 102. Emergency designation. DIVISION B--ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE SEC. 3. REFERENCES.
Except as expressly provided otherwise, any reference to ``this Act'' contained in any division of this Act shall be treated as referring only to the provisions of that division. DIVISION A--SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS SEC. 101. AMENDMENTS TO THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM, ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOANS, AND EMERGENCY GRANTS.
(a) Increased Authority for Commitments and Appropriations for Paycheck Protection Program.--Title I of division A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended--
(1) in section 1102(b)(1), by striking ``$349,000,000,000'' and inserting ``$659,000,000,000''; and
(2) in section 1107(a)(1), by striking ``$349,000,000,000'' and inserting ``$670,335,000,000''.
(b) Increased Authorization for Emergency EIDL Grants.-- Section 1110(e)(7) of division A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended by striking ``$10,000,000,000'' and inserting ``$20,000,000,000''.
(c) Eligibility of Agricultural Enterprises for Economic Injury Disaster Loans and Emergency Grants.--Section 1110(a)(2) of division A of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``or'' at the end;
(2) in subparagraph (E), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; or''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(F) an agricultural enterprise (as defined in section 18(b) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 647(b)) with not more than 500 employees.''.
(d) Set Aside for Insured Depository Institutions, Credit Unions, and Community Financial Institutions.--Section 7(a)(36) of the Small Business Act (15 U.S.C. 636(a)(36)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A)--
(A) in clause (viii), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(B) in clause (ix), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(C) by adding at the end the following:
``(x) the term `community development financial institution' has the meaning given the term in section 103 of the Riegle Community Development and Regulatory Improvement Act of 1994 (12 U.S.C. 4702));
``(xi) the term `community financial institutions' means--
``(I) a community development financial institution;
``(II) a minority depository institution, as defined in section 308 of the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989 (12 U.S.C. 1463 note);
``(III) a development company that is certified under title V of the Small Business Investment Act of 1958 (15 U.S.C. 695 et seq.); and
``(IV) an intermediary, as defined in section 7(m)(11); and
``(xii) the term `credit union' means a State credit union or a Federal credit union, as those terms are defined, respectively, in section 101 of the Federal Credit Union Act (12 U.S.C. 1752).''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(S) Set-aside for insured depository institutions, credit unions, and community financial institutions.--
``(i) Insured depository institutions and credit unions.-- In making loan guarantees under this paragraph after the date of enactment of this clause, the Administrator shall guarantee not less than $30,000,000,000 in loans made by--
``(I) insured depository institutions with consolidated assets of not less than $10,000,000,000 and less than $50,000,000,000; and
``(II) credit unions with consolidated assets of not less than $10,000,000,000 and less than $50,000,000,000.
``(ii) Community financial institutions, small insured depository institutions, and credit unions.--In making loan guarantees under this paragraph after the date of enactment of this clause, the Administrator shall guarantee not less than $30,000,000,000 in loans made by--
``(I) community financial institutions;
``(II) insured depository institutions with consolidated assets of less than $10,000,000,000; and
``(III) credit unions with consolidated assets of less than $10,000,000,000.''. SEC. 102. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION.
(a) In General.--The amounts provided under this division are designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4(g) of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (2 U.S.C. 933(g)).
(b) Designation in Senate.--In the Senate, this division is designated as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 4112(a) of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress), the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2018. DIVISION B--ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS FOR CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE The following sums are hereby appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020, and for other purposes, namely: TITLE I DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES Office of the Secretary public health and social services emergency fund (including transfer of funds)
For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'', $75,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, for necessary expenses to reimburse, through grants or other mechanisms, eligible health care providers for health care related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus: Provided, That these funds may not be used to reimburse expenses or losses that have been reimbursed from other sources or that other sources are obligated to reimburse: Provided further, That recipients of payments under this paragraph in this Act shall submit reports and maintain documentation as the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this paragraph as the ``Secretary'') determines are needed to ensure compliance with conditions that are imposed by this paragraph in this Act for such payments, and such reports and documentation shall be in such form, with such content, and in such time as the Secretary may prescribe for such purpose: Provided further, That ``eligible health care providers'' means public entities, Medicare or Medicaid enrolled suppliers and providers, and such for-profit entities and not-for-profit entities not otherwise described in this proviso as the Secretary may specify, within the United States (including territories), that provide diagnoses, testing, or care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID-19: Provided further, That the Secretary shall, on a rolling basis, review applications and make payments under this paragraph in this Act: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this paragraph in this Act shall be available for building or construction of temporary structures, leasing of properties, medical supplies and equipment including personal protective equipment and testing supplies, increased workforce and trainings, emergency operation centers, retrofitting facilities, and surge capacity: Provided further, That, in this paragraph, the term ``payment'' means a pre-payment, prospective payment, or retrospective payment, as determined appropriate by the Secretary: Provided further, That payments under this paragraph in this Act shall be made in consideration of the most efficient payment systems practicable to provide emergency payment: Provided further, That to be eligible for a payment under this paragraph in this Act, an eligible health care provider shall submit to the Secretary an application that includes a statement justifying the need of the provider for the payment and the eligible health care provider shall have a valid tax identification number: Provided further, That, not later than 3 years after final payments are made under this paragraph in this Act, the Office of Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall transmit a final report on audit findings with respect to this program to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate: Provided further, That nothing in this paragraph limits the authority of the Inspector General or the Comptroller General to conduct audits of interim payments at an earlier date: Provided further, That not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall provide a report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate on obligation of funds, including obligations to such eligible health care providers summarized by State of the payment receipt: Provided further, That such reports shall be updated and submitted to such Committees every 60 days until funds are expended: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
For an additional amount for ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'', $25,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, for necessary expenses to research, develop, validate, manufacture, purchase, administer, and expand capacity for COVID-19 tests to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19, including tests for both active infection and prior exposure, including molecular, antigen, and serological tests, the manufacturing, procurement and distribution of tests, testing equipment and testing supplies, including personal protective equipment needed for administering tests, the development and validation of rapid, molecular point-of-care tests, and other tests, support for workforce, epidemiology, to scale up academic, commercial, public health, and hospital laboratories, to conduct surveillance and contact tracing, support development of COVID-19 testing plans, and other related activities related to COVID-19 testing: Provided, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, not less than $11,000,000,000 shall be for States, localities, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes for necessary expenses to develop, purchase, administer, process, and analyze COVID-19 tests, including support for workforce, epidemiology, use by employers or in other settings, scale up of testing by public health, academic, commercial, and hospital laboratories, and community-based testing sites, health care facilities, and other entities engaged in COVID-19 testing, conduct surveillance, trace contacts, and other related activities related to COVID-19 testing: Provided further, That of the amount identified in the preceding proviso, not less than $2,000,000,000 shall be allocated to States, localities, and territories according to the formula that applied to the Public Health Emergency Preparedness cooperative agreement in fiscal year 2019, not less than $4,250,000,000 shall be allocated to States, localities, and territories according to a formula methodology that is based on relative number of cases of COVID-19, and not less than $750,000,000 shall be allocated in coordination with the Director of the Indian Health Service, to tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes: Provided further, That the Secretary of Health and Human Services (referred to in this paragraph as the ``Secretary'') may satisfy the funding thresholds outlined in the first and second provisos under this paragraph in this Act by making awards through other grant or cooperative agreement mechanisms: Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Governor or designee of each State, locality, territory, tribe, or tribal organization receiving funds pursuant to this Act shall submit to the Secretary its plan for COVID-19 testing, including goals for the remainder of calendar year 2020, to include: (1) the number of tests needed, month-by-month, to include diagnostic, serological, and other tests, as appropriate; (2) month-by-month estimates of laboratory and testing capacity, including related to workforce, equipment and supplies, and available tests; and (3) a description of how the State, locality, territory, tribe, or tribal organization will use its resources for testing, including as it relates to easing any COVID-19 community mitigation policies: Provided further, That the Secretary shall submit such formula methodology identified in the first proviso under this paragraph in this Act to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate one day prior to awarding such funds: Provided further, That such funds identified in the first and second provisos under this paragraph in this Act shall be allocated within 30 days of the date of enactment of this Act: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, not less than $1,000,000,000 shall be transferred to the ``Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--CDC-Wide Activities and Program Support'' for surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity expansion, contact tracing, public health data surveillance and analytics infrastructure modernization, disseminating information about testing, and workforce support necessary to expand and improve COVID-19 testing: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, not less than $306,000,000 shall be transferred to the ``National Institutes of Health--National Cancer Institute'' to develop, validate, improve, and implement serological testing and associated technologies for the purposes specified under this paragraph in this Act: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, not less than $500,000,000 shall be transferred to the ``National Institutes of Health--National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering'' to accelerate research, development, and implementation of point of care and other rapid testing related to coronavirus: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, not less than $1,000,000,000 shall be transferred to the ``National Institutes of Health--Office of the Director'' to develop, validate, improve, and implement testing and associated technologies; to accelerate research, development, and implementation of point of care and other rapid testing; and for partnerships with governmental and non-governmental entities to research, develop, and implement the activities outlined in this proviso: Provided further, That funds in the preceding proviso may be transferred to the accounts of the Institutes and Centers of the National Institutes of Health (referred to in this paragraph as the ``NIH'') for the purposes specified in the preceding proviso:
Provided further, That the transfer authority provided in the preceding proviso is in addition to all other transfer authority available to the NIH: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, not less than $1,000,000,000 shall be available to the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority for necessary expenses of advanced research, development, manufacturing, production, and purchase of diagnostic, serologic, or other COVID-19 tests or related supplies, and other activities related to COVID-19 testing at the discretion of the Secretary: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, $22,000,000, shall be transferred to the ``Department of Health and Human Services--Food and Drug Administration--Salaries and Expenses'' to support activities associated with diagnostic, serological, antigen, and other tests, and related administrative activities: Provided further, That the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act may be used for grants for the rent, lease, purchase, acquisition, construction, alteration, renovation, or equipping of non- federally owned facilities to improve preparedness and response capability at the State and local level for diagnostic, serologic, or other COVID-19 tests, or related supplies: Provided further, That the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act may be used for construction, alteration, renovation, or equipping of non- federally owned facilities for the production of diagnostic, serologic, or other COVID-19 tests, or related supplies, where the Secretary determines that such a contract is necessary to secure, or for the production of, sufficient amounts of such tests or related supplies: Provided further, That funds appropriated under this paragraph in this Act may be used for purchase of medical supplies and equipment, including personal protective equipment and testing supplies to be used for administering tests, increased workforce and trainings, emergency operation centers, and surge capacity for diagnostic, serologic, or other COVID-19 tests, or related supplies: Provided further, That products purchased with funds appropriated under this paragraph in this Act may, at the discretion of the Secretary, be deposited in the Strategic National Stockpile under section 319F-2 of the Public Health Service Act: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, $600,000,000 shall be transferred to ``Health Resources and Services Administration--Primary Health Care'' for grants under the Health Centers program, as defined by section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, and for grants to federally qualified health centers, as defined in section 1861(aa)(4)(B) of the Social Security Act: Provided further, That sections 330(e)(6)(A)(iii), 330(e)(6)(B)(iii), and 330(r)(2)(B) of the Public Health Service Act shall not apply to funds provided under the previous proviso: Provided further, That of the amount appropriated under this paragraph in this Act, $225,000,000 shall be used to provide additional funding for COVID-19 testing and related expenses, through grants or other mechanisms, to rural health clinics as defined in section 1861(aa)(2) of the Social Security Act, with such funds also available to such entities for building or construction of temporary structures, leasing of properties, and retrofitting facilities as necessary to support COVID-19 testing: Provided further, That such funds shall be distributed using the procedures developed for the Provider Relief Fund authorized under the third paragraph under this heading in division B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136); may be distributed using contracts or agreements established for such program; and shall be subject to the process requirements applicable to such program: Provided further, That the Secretary may specify a minimum amount for each eligible entity accepting assistance under the two previous provisos: Provided further, That up to $1,000,000,000 of funds provided under this paragraph in this Act may be used to cover the cost of testing for the uninsured, using the definitions applicable to funds provided under this heading in Public Law 116-127: Provided further, That not later than 21 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with other appropriate departments and agencies, shall issue a report on COVID-19 testing: Provided further, That such report shall include data on demographic characteristics, including, in a de-identified and disaggregated manner, race, ethnicity, age, sex, geographic region and other relevant factors of individuals tested for or diagnosed with COVID-19, to the extent such information is available: Provided further, That such report shall include information on the number and rates of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths as a result of COVID-19: Provided further, That such report shall be submitted to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate, and updated and resubmitted to such Committees, as necessary, every 30 days until the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency first declared by the Secretary on January 31, 2020: Provided further, That not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a report on the number of positive diagnoses, hospitalizations, and deaths as a result of COVID-19, disaggregated nationally by race, ethnicity, age, sex, geographic region, and other relevant factors: Provided further, That such report shall include epidemiological analysis of such data: Provided further, That not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in coordination with other departments and agencies, as appropriate, shall report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate, the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of the Senate on a COVID-19 strategic testing plan: Provided further, That such plan shall assist States, localities, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian health organizations, in understanding COVID-19 testing for both active infection and prior exposure, including hospital-based testing, high- complexity laboratory testing, point-of-care testing, mobile- testing units, testing for employers and other settings, and other tests as necessary: Provided further, That such plan shall include estimates of testing production that account for new and emerging technologies, as well as guidelines for testing: Provided further, That such plan shall address how the Secretary will increase domestic testing capacity, including testing supplies; and address disparities in all communities: Provided further, That such plan shall outline Federal resources that are available to support the testing plans of each State, locality, territory, tribe, tribal organization, and urban Indian health organization: Provided further, That such plan shall be updated every 90 days until funds are expended: Provided further, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS TITLE (including transfer of funds)
Sec. 101. The requirements, authorities, and conditions described in sections 18108, 18109, and 18112 of division B of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (Public Law 116-136) shall apply to funds appropriated in this Act to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Sec. 102. Funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ``Department of Health and Human Services'', except for the amounts specified in the first paragraph and the first and second provisos in the second paragraph under the heading ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'', may be transferred to, and merged with, other appropriation accounts under the headings ``Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'', ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'', ``Food and Drug Administration'', and ``National Institutes of Health'' to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus following consultation with the Office of Management and Budget: Provided, That the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate shall be notified 10 days in advance of any such transfer:
Provided further, That, upon a determination that all or part of the funds transferred from an appropriation by this Act are not necessary, such amounts may be transferred back to that appropriation: Provided further, That none of the funds made available by this Act may be transferred pursuant to the authority in section 205 of division A of Public Law 116-94 or section 241(a) of the Public Health Service Act.
Sec. 103. Of the funds appropriated by this Act under the heading ``Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund'', up to $6,000,000 shall be transferred to, and merged with, funds made available under the heading ``Office of the Secretary, Office of Inspector General'', and shall remain available until expended, for oversight of activities supported with funds appropriated to the Department of Health and Human Services to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally: Provided, That the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services shall consult with the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate prior to obligating such funds: Provided further, That the transfer authority provided by this section is in addition to any other transfer authority provided by law. TITLE II INDEPENDENT AGENCIES Small Business Administration salaries and expenses
For an additional amount for ``Salaries and Expenses'', $2,100,000,000, to remain available until September 30, 2021, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. disaster loans program account
For an additional amount for ``Disaster Loans Program Account'' for the cost of direct loans authorized by section 7(b) of the Small Business Act, $50,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. emergency eidl grants
For an additional amount for ``Emergency EIDL Grants'' for the cost of emergency EIDL grants authorized by section 1110 of division A of the CARES Act (Public Law 116-136), $10,000,000,000, to remain available until expended, to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally: Provided, That such amount is designated by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985. TITLE III GENERAL PROVISIONS--THIS ACT
Sec. 301. Each amount appropriated or made available by this Act is in addition to amounts otherwise appropriated for the fiscal year involved.
Sec. 302. No part of any appropriation contained in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond the current fiscal year unless expressly so provided herein.
Sec. 303. Unless otherwise provided for by this Act, the additional amounts appropriated by this Act to appropriations accounts shall be available under the authorities and conditions applicable to such appropriations accounts for fiscal year 2020.
Sec. 304. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, funds made available in this Act, or transferred pursuant to authorization granted in this Act, may only be used to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.
Sec. 305. In this Act, the term ``coronavirus'' means SARS-CoV-2 or another coronavirus with pandemic potential.
Sec. 306. Each amount designated in this Act by the Congress as being for an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 shall be available (or rescinded or transferred, if applicable) only if the President subsequently so designates all such amounts and transmits such designations to the Congress.
Sec. 307. Any amount appropriated by this Act, designated by the Congress as an emergency requirement pursuant to section 251(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 and subsequently so designated by the President, and transferred pursuant to transfer authorities provided by this Act shall retain such designation. budgetary effects
Sec. 308. (a) Statutory PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of this division shall not be entered on either PAYGO scorecard maintained pursuant to section 4(d) of the Statutory Pay As-You-Go Act of 2010.
(b) Senate PAYGO Scorecards.--The budgetary effects of this division shall not be entered on any PAYGO scorecard maintained for purposes of section 4106 of H. Con. Res. 71 (115th Congress).
(c) Classification of Budgetary Effects.--Notwithstanding Rule 3 of the Budget Scorekeeping Guidelines set forth in the joint explanatory statement of the committee of conference accompanying Conference Report 105-217 and section 250(c)(7) and (c)(8) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, the budgetary effects of this division shall be estimated for purposes of section 251 of such Act.
This division may be cited as the ``Additional Emergency Appropriations for Coronavirus Response''.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Madam Speaker, we are here today in these very trying and unprecedented times to act on an emergency interim funding package that I am pleased has strong bipartisan support. But we did not arrive here without significant efforts by our Democratic colleagues.
When we began negotiations with the Senate, we were presented with an insufficient proposal that did not address the public health crisis that has now claimed the lives of nearly 48,000 Americans. The measures that we fought for will now bring real relief to the American people and prioritizes resources to combat this virus. This means more funding for hospitals and healthcare workers. It also means resources designated for testing.
I am encouraged that the administration has committed to a national testing strategy which will be necessary to reopen our economy. We are all painfully aware that the American people are worried about their health, their jobs, the economy, and what life will look like after the emergency subsides. It is our responsibility to give our communities the confidence that we will get through this crisis, and that, eventually, we will return to normal lives.
To do this, we must protect our small businesses on Main Street, and that is why we fought to increase funding for the Paycheck Protection Program and target the funds to community-based lenders, small banks, and credit unions. The legislation before us today is a marked improvement from where the Senate majority started, but I want to be clear: This does not come close to addressing the staggering needs of the American family. That is why my fellow chairs and I have already begun working on COVID four.
Our next legislative package must be grounded in the understanding that restarting our economy can only happen when Americans are healthy and have the confidence to return to work. For our part, the Committee on Ways and Means will prioritize funding for hospitals and assistance for those on the front lines--and I know Mr. Brady agrees with us on that--as we proceed.
In addition, our State and local governments are feeling the pain of slashed revenue from this pandemic. Without our support, essential workers who have been risking their lives are at risk of losing their jobs.
Finally, we must look at what the most vulnerable in our country are facing by putting money into their pockets with another round of stimulus payments so they can pay for essentials. Similarly, we need to extend Federal unemployment compensation into the fall and help take the pressure off of overwhelmed State governments at the moment.
Since this crisis began, Members and staff have made Herculean efforts to address the challenges we are now facing. We still have much work to do to ensure that we put the needs of our neighbors first, and we need to acknowledge--and I know Mr. Brady feels as I do--the work of the Committee on Ways and Means' staffers in bringing us to this moment. Together, we will rise to this challenge.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Pelosi), whose career has been marked by a steadfast determination to expand healthcare coverage for all members of the American family and continues to be a champion for the least, the last, and the lost, who are feeling part of the grip of this pandemic.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Alabama (Ms. Sewell), a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, let me describe hospitals as a priority.
With that, Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Langevin).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Lujan), the well-regarded Congressman who also has the title of Assistant Speaker.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Clyburn), the very capable Democratic whip.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Nevada (Mr. Horsford), a well-regarded Congressman.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield to the distinguished Congresswoman from Ohio (Mrs. Beatty).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Lawrence), a well-known advocate for the people of Michigan.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Butterfield), a very capable Congressman and a close friend of mine.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Kelly), a real champion of small business.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer), a very influential member of the Ways and Means Committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Jeffries), who has done a remarkable job during this trying period as the chair of the Democratic Caucus.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Beyer), an ambassador, Congressman, successful businessman, and member of the Ways and Means Committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Judy Chu), a very well-regarded gentlewoman and a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
In order to reopen our economy and conquer this virus, we need to have a real count of who has been infected, but we still don't know the true impact of this pandemic because our Nation is facing a severe shortage of COVID-19 tests. That is why it is so important that Democrats fought to include $25 billion in this package to expand our testing capacity.
Also of critical importance is that this legislation has the Paycheck Protection Program set aside $60 billion in lending authority for small community lenders, helping the countless small businesses turned away by big banks, like my constituent Tony, a dentist who has had a business account with Bank of America since 1983 but was denied the opportunity to even apply for PPP. This set-aside authority gives our smallest businesses the resources and hope they need that they can survive this pandemic.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Higgins), champion of all things Buffalo and a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam Speaker, I thank Chairman Neal for yielding.
This disaster relief bill includes $360 billion for paycheck protection for American workers; $75 billion for our courageous healthcare workers and the institutions that they work at; and $25 billion for virus testing to bend, break, and crush the disease curve.
Sadly, New York's State, county, and local governments were kicked out of this disaster relief bill, and the Senate majority leader's arrogant advice for them to include bankruptcy is insulting and arrogant.
What we need at the time of national crisis, a national emergency, is we need leaders who possess goodness, humility, courage, and a sense that we are all in this together, a sense of national solidarity.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), chairman of the Subcommittee on Worker & Family Support.
Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam Speaker, the coronavirus has brought to national attention the huge disparities in health status and economic status of African Americans and other population groups in this country.
We have seen how some financial institutions overlooked and denied small, struggling businesses. This bill will do something about both. I hope it does, and I am confident that it will.
After we have arrested the coronavirus, let's do something different and help equalize America so that Blacks and other population groups are not dying in disproportion to our population.
Let's make America the great equalizer, the America that has never been and yet the America that we know can and must be, and let's save our Postal Service.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Suozzi), a champion of all things New York and a member of the Ways and Means Committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I am delighted to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Gomez), a well-regarded member of the Ways and Means Committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Waters), the chairwoman of the Financial Services Committee, who is a major author of this legislation.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, we certainly express our best to Maxine Waters and her family at this challenging time.
Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee), the distinguished congresswoman.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, let me acknowledge that people are dying. That sometime in the future, we may have one-sixth of the number of people that died in World War II in the battles on behalf of the United States.
I rise because I support this legislation because it has universal testing for COVID-19. It is a matter of life and death. And I call upon using this $25 billion for testing nursing homes and all essential workers. They must be assured that they are safe.
I join with the Congressional Black Caucus to make sure that we have concentrated voluntary testing in areas where there have been high deaths, contact tracing to identify the people, which has been included, antibody tests, working with our communities and faith-based. And, yes, The Nickel in the Fifth Ward, where Mickey Leland and Barbara Jordan work; that is a restaurant. I want them to be part of those who will get now the new dollars, the $60 billion that is going to help the very, very small. And I want to stand in the way of the Ruth's Chris and the Shake Shacks, the large corporations, to make sure that they understand that we are sharing with each other. So small businesses now with minority banks and CDFIs can do this.
Finally, our hospitals that have been on the front lines. They need to be reimbursed and those who are Medicare focused, not just Medicaid focused, not just Medicare focused.
And, yes, I want hero pay for our transit workers and hero pay for our professionals.
Madam Speaker, I support this legislation now to save lives.
Madam Speaker, as a senior member of the Committees on the Judiciary and on Homeland Security, and founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Coronavirus Taskforce, I rise in strong support of the ``Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act,'' an interim measure that supplements the CARES Act, the assistance and relief package passed by Congress providing more than $2 trillion to address the adverse health and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
But more must be done, and it is our obligation to ensure that the necessary assistance is provided, and that our decisions are informed by science, based on evidence, and put the physical safety and economic security and livelihoods of the American people foremost.
Every day, we see the need for further action to combat the coronavirus crisis.
To date, there are more than 800,000 confirmed cases, over 43,000 dead, including 20,196 cases and 547 deaths in my home state of Texas.
On top of that, by taking the necessary measures to slow the pandemic and `flatten the curve' so as not to overwhelm the nation's health care system, economic activity in the United States has experienced a severe shock to the system.
More than 22 million initial unemployment claims in the past month alone.
In addition, on March 23, 2020, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) dipped to 18,321.62, which is even lower than it was on Election Night 2016, and far below the 19,827 mark where it stood on January 20, 2017.
In other words, Madam Speaker, all the gains that were made to the stock market and heralded by this Administration as evidence of its genius have been wiped out, depleting the retirement savings and 401ks of millions of ordinary Americans.
Democrats dramatically changed the package originally proposed by the Senate from an insufficient Republican plan that left behind hospitals and health workers but did nothing to aid the survival of the most vulnerable small businesses on Main Street.
That is why Democrats in Congress insisted on, fought for, and succeeded in shepherding into law the CARES Act, established the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a new guaranteed loan program at the Small Business Administration (SBA) to help small businesses cover payroll and other expenses during the crisis, with 100 percent of the amount eligible for forgiveness if employers retain employees.
The CARES Act also created the Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, a new $10 billion grant program, leveraging SBA's Office of Disaster Assistance to provide small businesses with much needed capital in a timely manner.
Congress intended that these programs would provide immediate financial support to secure the survival of the small business community, which is the backbone of the national economy.
As the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic becomes clearer and more far-reaching, it will be necessary to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan program (EIDL) funding made available under the CARES Act.
The legislation before us replenishes these funds, and importantly, sets aside a portion of those funds be deposited in Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), minority depository institutions (MDIs), certified development companies, microloan intermediaries, and State or Federal Credit Unions to ensure that economically distressed or disadvantaged communities have access to the capital needed to revive and regenerate their local economies.
Specifically, the legislation before us strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in additional funding and $50 billion for SBA disaster lending, translating into more than $350 billion in loans, and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants.
Additionally, and importantly, this legislation directs that $30 billion be deposited in banks and credit unions with less than $10 billion in assets, as well as all Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), MDIs, certified development companies (CDCs), and microlenders that are PPP lenders.
Madam Speaker, another reason I strongly support this legislation is because it provides $75 billion to provide hospitals and health care workers on the frontlines the necessary resources, especially personal protective equipment (PPE) to battle the coronavirus pandemic and care for its victims.
We have all seen the heart-wrenching stories of courageous doctors, nurses, ambulance drivers, orderlies, and others selflessly striving to save others while putting themselves in harm's way because of the severe shortage of PPE.
Madam Speaker, the current president fancies calling himself a ``War President.''
For anyone who needs reminding, the nation's greatest wartime presidents made sure that American troops on the frontlines were trained, equipped, and protected in battle.
I also support this legislation because it provides as I requested $25 billion for diagnostic testing and contact tracing promised at no charge to the person.
This funding will help states and local jurisdiction conduct necessary COVID-19 testing in local jails, juvenile detention centers, and elsewhere in the criminal justice system.
Testing is the key to reopening the economy and resuming our lives, and to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus, domestically or internationally, for necessary expenses to research, develop, validate, manufacture, purchase, administer, and expand capacity for COVID-19 tests to effectively monitor and suppress COVID-19, including tests for both active infection and 19 prior exposure.
If we cannot see where COVID-19 is within a community, there is no reliable way to prevent its spread other than quarantine.
If we do not dramatically increase testing, we will remain prisoners of COVID-19 until we have a vaccine widely available, which is not expected to occur until early 2021.
Universal testing for COVID-19 is a matter of life and death for millions of Americans, but it is also a salvation for millions of others who are living desperate lives behind locked doors.
The liberation of millions hinges on getting testing in every community so that we can shine a light on where COVID-19 is and where it is not present.
The lack of testing early on and the continued lack of testing is costing trillions in lost economic output and it will continue to cost much more as we struggle to save lives through social distancing and providing adequate universal access to COVID-19 needed medicines, equipment, and PPE to protect medical personnel.
Madam Speaker, based on the limited data available to date, it is clear that African Americans are at higher risk of contracting COVID-19 and experiencing the worst outcomes.
An April 2020 analysis by the Washington Post of available data and census demographics shows that counties that are majority-black have three times the rate of infections and almost six times the rate of deaths as counties where white residents are in the majority.
Madam Speaker, African Americans are 26 percent of the population in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin but account for 73 percent of COVID-19 related deaths; comparable numbers in Chicago, Illinois and Washington, D.C. are 32 percent and 46 percent of the population but 67 percent and 58 percent of COVID-19 deaths respectively.
Faced with this grim reality, I am particularly pleased that the legislation before us directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to collect, publicly release, and report to Congress racial and demographic data on COVID-19 in order to identify and address racial disparities in the response.
But Madam Speaker, we all recognize the legislation before us is only an interim measure and more must and will be done to protect our nation and make our people whole.
In the next supplement to the CARES Act, I look forward to working with my colleagues to include the following priorities:
1. Hero pay for mass transit workers;
2. Increased childcare direct payment assistance to essential workers;
3. Additional funding for CDC data collection and research regarding disparate impact of COVID-19 on African Americans and Latinos;
4. Expanded Medicaid payments to local counties in states that have not accepted the expanded Medicaid;
5. Medical shelters creating extra COVID-19 hospital beds to be funded at 100 percent so counties like Harris County in my home state of Texas is not subsidizing all of its neighboring counties; and
6. Funding for an additional cash distribution of $2,000 per adult and $500 per child.
Madam Speaker, the occasion demands that we rise, and I urge all Members to join me in voting to pass the Senate Amendment to H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Carolyn B. Maloney), the chairperson of the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Madam Speaker, I support this bill, which provides an additional $310 billion for PPP loans. And while this is desperately needed, it almost certainly will not be enough.
I am glad that an additional $60 billion is being set aside for community banks, credit unions, minority banks, and CDFIs. And as chair of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, I promise I will watch the $60 billion like a hawk to make sure that it goes to the communities that we intended.
But I also want to mention another key priority: The postal service, which is running out of money and must be funded soon.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro), a fully capable member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Takano), chairperson of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy), a very capable member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Bera).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Schrier).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. McAdams).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, let me inquire as to how much time is remaining on each side.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Craig).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Escobar).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Ruiz).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentleman from California another 10 seconds.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Clarke), the vice chair of the Energy and Commerce Committee.
Ms. CLARKE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today to stand up for the 15,000-plus New Yorkers and thousands of Americans who have lost their lives due to the coronavirus and to stand up for the tens of thousands of healthcare and essential community workers whose lives are on the line as I stand here.
Today, we are voting on a $480 billion interim relief package that includes $370 billion for small business loans and grants, $60 billion of which will go to mom-and-pop, underbanked, and cash-and-carry, $75 billion for hospitals and healthcare facilities and $25 billion for a national testing strategy.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Green).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Pocan).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Connolly).
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Mr. NEAL. I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Payne).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. Cicilline), the chairman of the Democratic messaging committee.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Levin).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Kim).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, a reminder that our job here is never to acquiesce to the other Chamber. By any objective measurement, this is a much-improved piece of legislation.
Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Washington (Ms. Jayapal), whose heartfelt expressions on behalf of her constituents this week were well noted.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Cunningham).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the distinguished majority leader.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, the gentleman has already said that he intends to visit the issue immediately of more aid for State and local governments, and be assured, based upon the negotiations and discussions we have had in our caucus, that opportunity will present itself in the near future.
Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Massachusetts (Ms. Pressley).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Ocasio-Cortez).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Illinois (Ms. Underwood).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Lamb).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Krishnamoorthi).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Mucarsel-Powell).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Rose).
Mr. ROSE of New York. Madam Speaker, I rise today because I agree with my colleagues across the aisle. We should have been here weeks ago: weeks ago to get more money for our hospitals, weeks ago to protect testing, weeks ago to improve this program for small businesses.
But, alas, only in Washington, D.C., would we wait weeks when we all agree. But let's move forward because our frontline workers right now cannot afford for us to stand by for politics.
Leader McConnell said to our cities and States, to our cops and firemen and teachers, he told them to drop dead. Well, why don't we put politics aside, rise up, and tell him that we put the country first.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. Sherrill).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Slotkin).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from Connecticut (Mr. Himes).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rouda).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Madam Speaker, healthcare workers and small businesses are struggling to stay alive. That is why Democrats fought to ensure hospitals and Main Street get this jolt of relief.
We walled off billions in new Paycheck Protection Program funds for smaller community banks and credit unions so Wall Street doesn't vacuum it all up.
Let's face it: If healthcare workers cannot safely protect us, America's economy stops. So Democrats secured $75 billion for healthcare providers and $25 billion more for testing. Without mass testing, we can not fully reopen, and we end up voting for endless relief packages.
Without Democrats' push for truly small businesses, big business would have continued to cut the line.
We will rescue schools and local governments in CARES Act 2. Right now, this is the adrenaline shot that the healthcare system needs.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from California (Mrs. Torres).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Minnesota (Ms. Omar).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Torres Small).
Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Madam Speaker, I rise to get Americans the support to keep them safe and make sure New Mexicans and rural communities get their fair share. By refilling small business forgivable loans and dedicating money to small lenders, this package will help New Mexicans who were crowded out of the first wave of funding.
I am also voting to save rural hospitals and to get testing and masks and gloves and gowns, all the things we need to keep us safe and to rebuild our economy.
There is still so much work to be done, and let's do that next step together.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, might I inquire as to how much time is remaining on both sides.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Espaillat).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Carbajal).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. Tlaib).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield the gentlewoman from Michigan an additional 1 minute.
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield 30 seconds to the gentleman from California (Mr. Cox).
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Mr. NEAL. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume as I prepare to close.
Madam Speaker, I want to thank many Members and staff who made sure this final product conveyed the values of the Democratic Caucus and will bring real life and relief to the American people.
First, I want to thank the Speaker, who has provided tremendous leadership to get this deal over the line.
Next, our deepest gratitude to fellow committee chairs and their contributions and shrewd negotiation of this package.
Small Business Committee Chairwoman Velazquez and Financial Services Committee Chairwoman Waters deserve our thanks for securing funding for small businesses that will need it the most.
Thanks to Frank Pallone from the Energy and Commerce Committee for fighting for national testing as a strategy and securing funding to combat this public health crisis.
Each coronavirus relief package has been a herculean effort, and this one is no different.
With that, I want to close and wish good health to our colleagues and our fellow Americans, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
Mr. Speaker, we need to establish clarity in the Record.
This legislation is much improved over what came over to us from the Senate. This includes an additional $75 billion for our hospitals, $60 billion that is directed at people at the bottom end of the small business community.
In addition, we all agree in this Chamber that the following has to occur: testing, testing, testing. That was not in the legislation until we decided on this side to establish that as a marker. This legislation, on every basis, has been improved.
And let me just say this: President Trump has said more money for State and local governments, Republican Governors across the country and Democratic Governors, including the Republican Governor of Massachusetts who has spoken to me personally on this issue, as we go forward.
This is about the police, the fire, the EMTs. This is about the schoolteachers. This is about those individuals who make a difference in our lives, the postal workers every day, and not to forget those individuals whom we depend on and we have come to see just how important they are to all of us in the last few weeks. That is what the additional phase four will look like.
And with that, Mr. Speaker, with gratitude, I want to recognize the gentlewoman from New York. I must tell you that not only did she do a great job with authoring this legislation, but her patience in answering questions from colleagues during the course of the last 2 weeks has been remarkable.
Velazquez).
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