Today, the House of Representatives advanced additional legislation in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, passing an updated version of the HEROES Act, which first passed the House on May 15, 2020. This legislation includes a number of provisions proposed in Rep. Kuster’s “Roadmap to Recovery” that would support New Hampshire’s efforts to combat the pandemic and bolster America’s economic recovery.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our economy and public health infrastructure in unprecedented ways, and Granite Staters have stepped up to the plate to support their communities and neighbors during this health crisis,” said Congresswoman Kuster. “New Hampshire families, workers, small businesses, and communities are depending on Congress to take action to assist our state and local efforts to keep them safe, and that is exactly what the House did today. The new legislation we passed will deliver another round of direct economic impact payments to individuals and families, support small businesses, provide funding to schools and hospitals, restore unemployment benefits, and boost funding for the development and distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine.” 

“Importantly, this bill would direct over $800 million to New Hampshire towns and counties that have been on the frontlines of this pandemic, and creates a streamlined forgiveness system for businesses using the Paycheck Protection Program, which will cut red tape and make it easier for business owners to have their loans forgiven,” Kuster continued. “I was pleased to support this critical legislation, which includes several principles and ideas that I prioritized in my Roadmap to Recovery. I urge Senate Republicans and President Trump to join our efforts in delivering real relief for the American people.” 

The updated HEROES Act protects lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy. To address needs that have arisen since the House first acted, the updated legislation includes:

▪ Strong support for small businesses, by improving the Paycheck Protection Program to serve the smallest businesses and struggling non-profits, providing hard-hit businesses with second loans, and delivering targeted assistance for the struggling restaurant industry and independent live venue operators.

▪ Additional assistance for airline industry workers, extending the highly successful Payroll Support Program to keep airline industry workers paid.

▪ More funds to bolster education and child care, with $225 billion for education – including $182 billion for K12 schools and nearly $39 billion for postsecondary education – and $57 billion to support child care for families.

In addition, it maintains key priorities from the version of the legislation that passed the House in May. Among the bill’s many provisions, it:

▪ Honors our heroes, through $436 billion to provide one year’s worth of assistance to state, local, territorial and tribal governments who desperately need funds to pay vital workers like first responders and health workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs.

▪ Supports testing, tracing and treatment, through $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, with special attention to the disparities facing communities of color, ensuring every American can access free coronavirus treatment, and supporting hospitals and providers. The updated bill also includes $28 billion for procurement, distribution and education campaigns for a safe and effective vaccine.

▪ Provides additional direct payments, cushioning the economic blow of the coronavirus crisis with a more robust second round of economic impact payments of $1,200 per taxpayer and $500 per dependent.

▪ Protects payrolls, by enhancing the new employee retention tax credit that encourages employers to keep employees on payroll.

▪ Ensures worker safety, by requiring OSHA to issue a strong, enforceable standard within seven days to require all workplaces to develop and implement infection control plans based on CDC expertise.

▪ Preserves health coverage, protecting Americans from losing their employer-provided health insurance by making unemployed Americans automatically receive the maximum ACA subsidy on the exchanges, as well as a special enrollment period in the ACA exchanges for uninsured Americans.

▪ Restores unemployment benefits, ensuring weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January and preventing unemployed workers from exhausting their eligibility, providing a vital safety net for the record number of Americans who are unemployed, including those connected to the gig-economy.

▪ Bolsters housing assistance, helping struggling families afford a safe place to live with tens of billions in new supports to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related costs – preventing homelessness.

▪ Strengthens food security, addressing rising hunger with a 15 percent increase to the maximum SNAP benefit and additional funding for nutrition programs that help families put food on the table as well as targeted support for farmers and producers impacted by the crisis.

▪ Safeguards our democracy, with new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate Census, and preserve the Postal Service.

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