Congressman Mac Thornberry Supports Third Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Package

Congressman Mac Thornberry Supports Third Coronavirus (COVID-19) Relief Package

“In many ways, this bill is too big, too expensive, and includes too many things not related to COVID-19, but we are in a crisis unlike anything most of us have seen. It is necessary for Congress to act and to act at a level proportionate to the crisis. Therefore, I support this bill which will help every American and this country as a whole in this difficult time.”

The CARES Act:

• Provides direct $1,200 non-taxable payments to individuals and expands unemployment benefits.
• Provides loans to small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) that may be forgiven if workers are kept on the payroll.
• Provides loans and loan guarantees for larger businesses and key industries.
• Increases access to healthcare for individuals by expanding telehealth services, streamlining regulations for testing, increasing Medicare payments for providers, and adding funding for research and personal protective equipment.
• Includes additional funding for hospitals, states, cities, local responders, and the Departments of Defense (DOD) and Veterans Affairs (VA) to protect the health of servicemembers, veterans, and service-connected contractors.

More information can be found at my websitehere, which will be updated as appropriate.

What this bill means for individuals:

• Provides Americans with a one-time tax rebate check of $1,200 per individual, $2,400 per couple, plus $500 per eligible child.
  • Total benefits will begin to be reduced for Americans with an adjusted gross income above $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for the head of household, and $150,000 for married couples.
  • Individuals making over $99,000 and married couples making over $198,000 will not receive a direct payment.
• Expands unemployment insurance to cover self-employed and non-profit employees.
  • Additionally, adds a $600/week across-the-board payment increase over the state payment rate through the end of July
  • Provides an additional 13 weeks of benefits beyond what states typically allow.
• Provides additional funding for existing grants to support state, local, tribal, and communities.These grants assist vulnerable populations through programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), the Disaster Relief Fund, and other economic assistance funds.

What this bill means for business:

• Provides funding for a new loan program backed by the SBA to help small businesses (those with fewer than 500 employees) pay certain expenses.
• For the first eight weeks loans may be fully forgiven if workers are kept on the payroll.
• Funds may be used to meet payroll, pay rent, and pay utilities.
• 501(c)(3) organizations will be eligible.

What this bill means for health care:

• Provides $16 billion in funding for states and local communities to purchase necessary personal protective equipment, such as gloves, masks, gowns for healthcare providers.
• Provides $100 billion for a new program to provide grants to hospitals to cover unreimbursed expenses or lost revenues attributable to COVID-19.
• Expands telehealth services in the Medicare program, allowing seniors across the nation to receive any current telehealth approved service, not just COVID-19-related services, but also mental health and substance abuse services.
• Adds funding for testing, research, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

For more information and updates on COVID-19 resources, please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website atCDC.govor my website,here.