LaHood Statement on Coronavirus Relief Legislation—The CARES Act

[March 28, 2020]  WASHINGTON, D.C.– Congressman Darin LaHood (R-IL) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act —Coronavirus (COVID-19) relief legislation by voice vote. This is the third legislative relief bill Congress has passed to deliver support for states, small businesses, workers, and health care professionals on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response.

“Central and west-central Illinois are feeling the impact of the COVD-19 outbreak, as schools close, business shut down, our health care system feels strain, and people lose jobs. This uncertain time requires Congress to take swift and decisive action to support workers and families. The CARES Act will stabilize an uneasy economy, put money in the hands of families and workers who need it most, support Illinois’ unemployment program, and deliver resources to health care workers and hospitals on the front lines fighting to combat the coronavirus.

“While I have real concerns about some provisions in the bill, as well as the massive amount of deficit spending, I am also worried about delaying support for millions of hurting Americans and the prospect of a costly recession for our country. No compromise is perfect, and this pandemic requires each of us to put aside our differences and provide relief for Illinoisans and Americans.

“The coronavirus presents our state and nation with a serious health challenge, and like every obstacle we face, Americans are rising to the occasion to combat this virus. That’s what we’re seeing in central and west-central Illinois. The heroes among us—nurses, doctors, health care workers, truck drivers, grocery store workers, and pharmacy clerks—are stepping up to provide for our communities. The CARES Act takes needed steps to support those heroes and families during this time of crisis.”

The CARES Act included legislation authored by Congressman LaHood that will reduce health care costs for patients and expand affordable access to care. You can learn more about that bill here.

The CARES Act will:

Provide direct cash payments of up to $1,200 for most individual taxpayers and $2,400 for most married couples who file jointly. Those amounts would increase by $500 for every eligible child;

Support states’ unemployment programs by providing an additional $600 per week, per person in unemployment compensation benefits and an additional 13 weeks of eligibility;

Delay payments for employer-side payroll taxes;

Provide support to businesses and industries that have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak – through no fault of their own – to help ensure workers have jobs to return to after this crisis subsides;

Offer forgivable loans to small businesses that retain employees through this crisis;

Provide $117 billion to our nation’s health care community, including veterans’ health, to support doctors, hospitals and other health care professionals who are on the front lines of this battle, as well as temporary relief from the Medicare sequester, temporary expansion of a Medicare-accelerated payment program to help rural hospitals, and increased Medicare reimbursement for coronavirus care;

Extend reimbursement relief for durable medical equipment providers, whose products patients rely on to transition from hospital to home, throughout the duration of the coronavirus emergency.

[OFFICE OF REP. DARIN LaHOOD]