The House of Representatives Thursday overwhelmingly passed a $484 billion relief package to rescue small businesses, help hospitals and to expand testing, sending the fourth bipartisan coronavirus bill to President Trump’s desk.
The legislation will deliver a $310 billion infusion to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a forgivable loan program that ran out money last week amid skyrocketing demand from hurting small businesses. The Senate passed the legislation on Tuesday by voice vote.
The legislation passed 388 to 5, with one member voting present.
While both Republicans and Democrats supported the bill, they couldn’t help but bash each other on the House floor in the hours leading up to the vote, accusing each other of playing politics by delaying the needed aid.
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said the additional funds for small businesses should have been passed immediately after the Trump Administration on April 7 asked for $250 billion in emergency aid because the small business loan fund was running out of money.
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McCarthy accused House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of delaying the important aid to extract concessions at the cost of 4.4 million more Americans filing for unemployment benefits just last week — bringing the total up to more than 26 million unemployment claims during the coronavirus pandemic.
“To those 4.4 million Americans that were laid off this week — Congress owes you an apology,” he said. “You did not have to have that happen.”
But Pelosi and Democrats blasted the GOP for withholding vital support for hospitals and additional aid for disadvantaged small businesses, only to agree two weeks later.
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“To say we delayed this, no, you delayed this,” Pelosi said, directing her ire at the Republicans and singling out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Despite the bickering about the timing and politics of the bill, the legislation marks another resounding bipartisan response from Congress in the fight against the pandemic that has infected more than 840,000 people in the United States and killed more than 46,000 Americans.
The first $8.3 billion bill signed into law March 6 focused on the public health response and the second bill established free testing, sick days and paid leave policies. The third bill, the massive $2 trillion CARES Act, set up $1,200 one-time direct payments to most Americans, expanded unemployment benefits, provided $500 billion in corporate aid and $350 billion to the PPP small business program.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif. walks to the House Chamber to vote on the nearly $500 billion Coronavirus relief bill on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 23, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
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“We do have a lot more work to do,” said Rep. Harley Rouda, D-Calif. “And I hope we can continue to work in a bipartisan fashion, stop the partisan sniping and do what we were meant to do here to protect our country.”
The nearly half-trillion package passed Thursday would add an additional $310 billion in PPP funding, with $30 billion of that reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $30 billion for mid-sized banks and credit unions — a Democrat request to help the smallest of businesses have access to funds.
The business help is expanded to add $50 billion for Small Business Administration (SBA) emergency disaster lending and $10 billion in SBA emergency disaster grants.
Democrats had been pushing for additional help for state and local governments that are running dry on revenue during the pandemic, but Republicans have refused and McConnell even suggested states should file for bankruptcy.
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But instead of state and local funds, Democrats secured $75 billion for healthcare providers to support COVID-19 expenses and lost revenue due to the canceling of many elected procedures. And the package includes $25 billion to develop mass testing, with $11 billion earmarked for states and localities.
The Republicans voting “no” were Reps. Andy Biggs of Arizona, Ken Buck of Colorado, Jody Hice of Georgia and Thomas Massie of Kentucky. For Democrats, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York rejected the bill. Independent Rep. Justin Amash of Michigan voted present.
Despite a half-trillion in new aid, politicians downplayed Thursday’s legislation as an “interim” bill or “Phase 3.5” because they have already started negotiating a larger stimulus package. While some Republicans want to wait on spending more money over debt concerns, the White House and Democrats view the next phase of legislation as a massive way to revive the economy with cash, including an infrastructure plan.
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In the next round of funding, progressive Democrats want more direct payments to Americans, mortgage and rent relief, healthcare help and student loan forgiveness.
Ocasio-Cortez, who represents one of the hardest-hit communities in New York, ripped the GOP for wanting to help big businesses that have gotten aid from the Paycheck Protection Program.
“It is a joke when Republicans say that they have urgency around this bill,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “The only folks that they have urgency around are folks like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Shake Shack. Those are the people getting assistance in this bill. You are not trying to fix this bill for mom and pops.”
She voted against the bill for not going far enough to help people in need.
“We have to fight to fund hospitals. Fighting to fund testing. That is what we’re fighting for in this bill,” the liberal firebrand continued. “It is unconscionable. If you have urgency, you would legislate like rent was due on May 1.”
This was the first time the House resumed session since March 27, when they passed the massive $2 trillion CARES Act by a voice vote. Much had changed in a month.
Lawmakers and staff wore masks in the House chamber. Members wiped down microphones and lecterns after they spoke. Voting took place in alphabetical waves to limit the number of people on the floor. The vote took one hour and 22 minutes to complete.
Some lawmakers expressed frustration the spending bill was worked out by leadership while lawmakers were home on a monthlong recess.
“Congress must convene not just today but every day until America’s back on track,” said Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, who blasted the current process as “half-assed legislating.” He was admonished by the presiding officer for using “vulgarity” on the floor.
The debate on the House floor turned personal at times, showing the widespread health and economic grip the virus has had on the country.
Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., got emotional on the House floor talking about a Detroit 5-year-old girl, Skylar Herbert, who died from COVID-19. She stood aside a big picture of the smiling girl, the daughter of first responders, as she pleaded for Congress to do more.
“Her death should be a wake-up call that we must act in urgency, ” Tlaib said. “…It is immoral for us to walk away and take a month off when … our neighbors are dying and losing loved ones.”
Rep. Ben McAdams, D-Utah, returned to House floor to speak in favor of the bill after recovering from a nasty bout of COVID-19 that hospitalized the 45-year-old.
Small Business Committee Chair Rep. Nydia Velazquez, who also recovered from a presumed case of coronavirus, touted the improvements Democrats made to the bill to help disadvantaged and unbanked businesses.
Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., said she’s dedicating her vote Thursday in honor of her “dear sister who is dying in a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri right now infected by the coronavirus.”
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And many members brought stories of the troubles of the small businesses in their districts that are on the verge of shutting down because of the government-ordered social distancing.
Rep. David Schweikert, R-Ariz., said the Washington delays on replenishing the small businesses were too long for tearful small business owners in a panic about having to lay off workers.
“We engaged in a type of cruelty around here,” Schweikert said. “Because we sat here and engaged in partisan[ship.] We’re better than this.”
