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 After the vote, Rep. LaHood released the following
statement:
"As I traveled across the 18th Congressional District of Illinois in
recent months, I heard from businesses on the brink of shutting down
for good because of Governor Pritzker's state-mandated closures,
workers who still cannot access Illinois' unemployment system, and
health care workers who need additional support to care for COVID-19
patients. This bipartisan agreement includes important provisions to
extend the Paycheck Protection Program, expand vaccine distribution,
reopen our schools, and increase rural broadband access. No
compromise is perfect, but this bipartisan bill will provide
critical support to families, workers, small businesses, and our
frontline health care heroes in Illinois.
"I continue to hold real concerns about the massive amount of
deficit spending we are piling up and Congress' yearly inability to
work in regular order to fund our government. While Congress needs
to act to provide COVID-19 relief, if we continue this spending
pattern unchecked, the burden left on our children and their
children will be unbearable.
"As we head into the new year, the health and economic impact of
COVID-19 will continue to present our nation with serious
challenges. This bill will provide important relief to those in need
and resources to support key programs in Illinois. It is essential
that the Governor, the General Assembly, and local elected officials
in Illinois also work swiftly to allow businesses to safely reopen,
get our kids back in the classroom, and alleviate the issues so many
of my constituents continue to have with Illinois' unemployment
system."
Bipartisan-Bicameral Omnibus & COVID Relief Deal
Key COVID-19 provisions in the legislation include:
Extends the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and adds deductibility
for PPP expenses
Gives businesses experiencing severe revenue reductions an
opportunity to apply for a second draw PPP loan
$20 billion for purchase of vaccines that will make the vaccine
available at no charge for anyone who needs it
$8 billion for vaccine distribution
$20 billion to assist states with testing
$600 for both adults and dependents with safeguards to prohibit
illegal aliens from receiving payment
$82 billion in funding for schools and universities to assist with
reopening for in-person learning
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$300 million to build out rural broadband
$250 million for telehealth
$13 billion to support our farmers and agriculture industry
Key provisions that Rep. LaHood introduced or advocated for:
Paycheck Protection Program deductibility, which Rep. LaHood called
for earlier this month
CERTS Act - $2 billion included in CERTS funding for the moto-coach
industry, which Rep. LaHood is the lead sponsor
H.R. 5952 - SNF Hemophilia Access Act, which Rep. LaHood is the lead
sponsor
$15 billion in funding for the Payroll Support Program for airlines,
which will support 18th District airports
Allows FSA/DCFSA users to rollover unused dollars into 2021, which
Rep. LaHood called for in May
Ends surprise medical billing, by taking patients out of the middle
with no government rate setting and giving true and honest cost
estimate for patients three days prior to scheduled procedure, which
are key priorities for Ways and Means Republicans
Improves support for unique rural health care needs suggested by the
Rural and Underserved Task Force, of which Rep. LaHood is a member
Includes responsible reforms to what are commonly known as “tax
extenders,” including making the Craft Beverage and Short Line Rail
tax credits permanent.
Allocates
$55 million for airport control towers, which will benefit needed
airport tower upgrades at 18th District airports
H.R. 7947 - Supporting Foster Youth and Families through the
Pandemic Act, which provides temporary additional funding to support
older foster youth, kin caregivers, at-risk families, state courts,
adoptive families, and foster care prevention services, and allows
older youth to remain in foster care during the pandemic.
For additional information on key items included in this legislation
and COVID-19 relief, visit the Ways and Means Republicans website
HERE.
[Congressman Darin LaHood] |
