MIAMI, FL – Today, U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (FL-26) released the following statement after voting to pass a $484 billion emergency aid package:
“Today, I voted for a bill that helps small businesses, hospitals, and expands testing. It is not perfect but it gets aid to struggling South Floridians who need it immediately. Democrats ensured this legislation expands aid to underserved small businesses, ensures access to EIDL program for small farms, provides additional funding to hospitals so they can continue saving lives, and expands testing to move us closer to being able to safely reopen our economy and return to work,” said Mucarsel-Powell. “I will continue to fight to make sure emergency funding reaches more small businesses, farmers and fishermen, and state and local governments that are struggling to keep police officers, fire and rescue teams, EMS workers, teachers, and other workers on the frontlines of this pandemic employed. I urge Congressional Republicans to join me in supporting the priorities affecting our cities and states in the next emergency aid bill.”
Mucarsel-Powell expressed her concerns with the legislation on the House floor earlier today. A downloadable video can be found HERE and below.
Mucarsel-Powell is pleased to have ensured the emergency package included the following:
- Strengthened the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in additional funding, with $30 billion reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions.
- Expanded small business support beyond PPP by securing $50 billion for SBA disaster lending, translating into more than $350 billion in loans, and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants.
- Ensured that small farmers can access Emergency Economic Injury Disaster (EIDL) Loans and Grants.
- Included $75 billion to provide resources to the frontlines, including Personal Protective Equipment.
- And secured $25 billion for testing, which is the key to reopening the economy. The Administration has also agreed to a national strategic testing policy that will focus on increasing domestic testing capacity including testing supplies.
