House Passes COVID Relief, Government Funding Package That Includes Multiple Balderson Priorities

Press Release

The U.S. House of Representatives today passed bipartisan, bicameral appropriations legislation that authorizes $900 billion in targeted COVID-19 relief for American families, hospitals, small businesses, schools, local governments, and more. The legislation includes multiple of Congressman Troy Balderson's (R-OH) top priorities, including the ability for small businesses to deduct Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) grants from their upcoming 2020 tax filings.

"While long overdue, this legislation does exactly what it needs to do: provide major, critical relief to Ohio's families, small business employees, rural communities, agriculture sector, and more," said Balderson. "While I'm pleased my colleagues on both sides of the aisle have finally agreed to this much-needed package, it's unacceptable to let these disagreements drag out at the expense of Americans' livelihoods. I hope for more bipartisan lawmaking in the 117th Session of Congress."

Key Balderson priorities incorporated in the omnibus package include:

DIRECT PAYMENTS TO AMERICANS

Provides economic impact payments of up to $600 for more than 85% of American adults and their dependents

SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF

Provides $248.5 billion to reopen and strengthen the PPP
Enables small businesses to deduct PPP grants from 2020 tax filings
Allows small businesses with fewer than 300 employees that received a PPP loan previously to apply for a second loan by demonstrating a 25% decrease in revenue
Allocates $20 billion to restart and extend the U.S Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program
Advance Grant for small businesses in low-income communities, and allows prior grantees that received less than $10,000 to reapply
Provides $15 billion in funding for entertainment venues, movie theaters, and museums that are experiencing significant revenue loss
Includes 501(c)6 organizations such as local chambers of commerce, housing cooperatives, newspapers, broadcasters, and radio stations in eligibility for PPP and ensures churches and faith-based organizations are eligible for PPP loans

FUNDING ADDITIONAL VACCINES AND TESTS

Allocates $20 billion for the purchase of vaccines and $8 billion for their distribution, making vaccines available at no cost to all Americans who need it
Provides $20 billion to assist states, such as Ohio, with testing

SUPPORTING LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, INCLUDING IN OHIO

Extends the Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) for state and local governments and tribes by one year

HELPING SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE PROVIDERS REOPEN

Allocates $82 billion for K-12 education and higher education to assist with reopening for in-person learning
Provides $10 billion for grants to childcare providers to help them safely reopen

UPLIFTING RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH BROADBAND CONNECTIVITY, TELEHEALTH, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS

Puts $7 billion toward the development of rural broadband connectivity, including nearly $2 billion to replace foreign-manufactured broadband equipment that poses national security threats
Provides $250 million for the expansion of telehealth options
Extends key public health programs for 3 years -- such as community health centers -- eliminating several funding cliffs over next several years

AIDING AMERICA'S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

Provides $13 billion to support America's farmers and agricultural sector
Enhances assistance under the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to support specialty crop, non-specialty crop, livestock, dairy, and poultry producers

HELPING AMERICANS FIGHT SUBSTANCE ABUSE

Allocates $4 billion toward substance abuse programs to help Americans suffering from addiction who were negatively impacted by stay-at-home orders

EXPANDING HOUSING AND NUTRITION ASSISTANCE

Increases SNAP benefits by 15% for 6 months and requires a report on the redemption rate and unexpended balances
Provides $25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistance for individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic and extends the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021
Provides funding for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), a program that serves over 700,000 older Americans monthly

See the full bill text here.

BACKGROUND

Balderson is a member of the House Committees on Small Business; Agriculture; Transportation and Infrastructure; and Science, Space, and Technology. His bipartisan legislation was signed into law on July 4, extending PPP by nearly a month and supporting 51 million jobs nationwide. He has championed bipartisan telehealth expansion and repeatedly pushed for PPP tax deductibility. Balderson has also fought for the expansion of rural broadband internet access and worked to combat the opioid epidemic, which has taken a devastating toll on Ohio.

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