Congresswoman Angie Craig: This is About Keeping the American Dream Alive

Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig voted in support of the fourth COVID-19 legislative package which meets the urgent need of replenishing small business and nonprofit loan programs, increases testing capabilities and supports doctors and hospitals.

"Whether I'm talking with a third-generation small business or a start-up, the needs are the same-- we need more relief for small businesses now," said Rep. Angie Craig. "This is about more than funding small businesses, this is about keeping the American dream alive."

The Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act includes:

• $310 billion in additional lending authority for the Paycheck Protection Program, with $60 billion set aside to support loans issued by community and mid-size lenders.
• $50 billion for separate disaster loans to small businesses and $10 billion in grants.
• $75 billion for hospitals to support health care workers, including making sure they have the personal protection equipment to keep frontline workers safe.
• $25 billion for virus testing.

The passage of this bill is an important step forward, but Rep. Craig believes that more support will be needed, particularly to our states, cities and towns. She has called for a supply chain czar to be appointed to develop and manage a federal strategy for the supply and distribution of testing supplies, personal protective equipment and the healthcare supply chain.

She also has introduced legislation to expand the definition of dependent in the CARES Act to include 17 and 18 year olds, 19-24-year old college students and disabled dependent adult children.

You can watch Rep. Craig's floor speech on the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act here.