Marshall Issues Statement on COVID Relief Legislation Passed on Dec. 21

WASHINGTON – U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. issued the following statement and details on the new COVID relief legislation.

“Millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses are being distributed and administered, bringing the hope and possibility of widespread immunity by mid-March. However, our nation still needs a bridge to help us to the spring. With that in mind, I’m supporting the $900 billion COVID relief bill. Since the summer, Republicans have called for a targeted relief package that prioritizes refunding the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for vaccine distribution, additional support for unemployed Americans and resources to allow our children to safely return to the classroom. This relief legislation delivers on all of those priorities and leaves out the unnecessary funding for cities and states and socialist priorities of the left.

This bill repurposes more than $500 billion in unused CARES Act funds to help hardworking Kansans make it through these next winter months. By reopening the highly successful Paycheck Protection Program, which saved more than 500,000 Kansas jobs this year, we will ensure that assistance is again available to struggling small businesses and improvement are made to address issues raised by lenders and business owners.

Families will receive another stimulus check, and federal unemployment benefits have been extended for both full-time and contract workers. Finally, this legislation includes essential funding for the continued manufacturing and distribution of the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine. This package not only will help families, small businesses, and communities still struggling with the impacts of COVID-19, but it also gives us the tools we need to defeat this virus.”

The COVID Relief bill does the following:

• Adds $280 billion to the Paycheck Protection Program to support small and mid-size businesses impacted by COVID-19, allowing them to retain employees and keep their door open
  • Gives businesses with 300 employees or less experiencing severe revenue reductions an opportunity to apply for a second PPP loan
  • Includes 501(c)(6) organizations but excludes unions from PPP eligibility
  • $15 billion in funding for entertainment venues, movie theaters, and museums that are experiencing significant revenue loss  
  • Codifies federal rules that ensure churches and faith-based organizations are eligible for PPP loans
  • Makes expenses businesses covered with funds from the Paycheck Protection Program tax deductible
• Provides $68 billion to ensure continued manufacturing and distribution of safe, effective COVID-19 doses to all Americans, regardless of their ability to pay
• Delivers $600 in direct payments to both adults and children, with reduced payments for high-earning families
• Provides $300 per week federal unemployment benefits until March 14, 2021, to help those still struggling to reenter the workforce
  • Extends and phases-out Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, which is a temporary federal program covering self-employed and gig workers, to March 14 (after which no new applicants) through April 5, 2021
• Sets aside $13 billion for the USDA to continue support of farmers, ranchers and the biofuels industry
• Provides $82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with reopening for in-person learning that also includes $2.75 billion in designated funds for private K through 12 education
• Extends the deadlines for states and cities to use CARES Act funds by one year  
• Provides $25 billion in temporary and targeted rental assistance for individuals who lost their source of income during the pandemic
  • Extends the eviction moratorium until January 31, 2021
• Allocates $7 billion in broadband funding that includes funding to build out rural networks and telehealth

“As a physician I often tried to share a message of hope to patients facing a tough diagnosis,” said Rep. Marshall “Over the past 11 months, I’ve learned even more about how important hope is to all of us.  With the vaccines being distributed and given, and now this next phase of COVID relief, I believe hope is visibly there for all Kansans. This Christmas season, I encourage those of us with more than enough to reach out to our neighbors who might benefit from some encouragement and a message of hope.”

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