Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02) spoke on the House floor calling for Congress to immediately pass bipartisan coronavirus relief to support struggling Granite State communities. Kuster has been a strong advocate for more federal relief and recently renewed her call for the passage of a comprehensive COVID-19 response package following the announcement of a bipartisan, bicameral proposal which would include funding for the Paycheck Protection Program to support small businesses, state and local funding to help first responders, extended unemployment benefits for Granite Staters out of work, critical funding to help with the distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, and $5 billion to combat the opioid epidemic, which has persisted amidst the coronavirus pandemic.
Kuster has been a strong advocate for additional support from the federal government as the country continues to combat the coronavirus pandemic. An original co-sponsor of H.R.748, the CARES Act, which responded to the COVID-19 outbreak and its impact on the economy, public health, state and local governments, individuals, and businesses, Kuster also supported H.R. 6800, the HEROES Act in May, and advocated for an updated version of the legislation in October. New Hampshire has not been immune to the economic impact of COVID-19, and if the federal government does not act, the legislature will be forced to make dramatic cuts in the state budget to account for millions of dollars of lost revenue due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Watch Rep. Kuster speak on the House floor here or read below:
Thank you Mr. Speaker. I rise to speak of the urgent need to pass bipartisan COVID-19 relief legislation as Congress works to conclude our work this year.
Families, businesses and workers in New Hampshire are feeling the continued pain and impact of this pandemic, as cases reach record highs in my state and hospitals and frontline health workers brace for the expected surge.
This week, I was pleased to see Democrats and Republicans in the House and the Senate come together to find common ground and release a promising framework that we should consider immediately.
This legislation would bolster our public health and economic response to COVID-19 to help us get through the long, cold, dark winter ahead.
Democrats and Republicans won’t get everything they want, but we need to come together and put politics aside.
This legislation includes new funding for the Paycheck Protection Program for small businesses, state and local funding for our first responders, extended unemployment and critical funding to help with the distribution of the promising COVID-19 vaccine, as well as $5 billion in funding to combat the opioid epidemic, which tragically continues to rage.
It’s time to come together and get the job done. I yield back.
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