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Rep. Angie Craig Votes for Renewed COVID-19 Relief Package

October 1, 2020
Press Release

Today, U.S. Rep Angie Craig voted for H.R. 945, the Updated Heroes Act, which passed the House of Representatives. Last week, Rep. Craig joined Rep. Cindy Axne (IA-02) in a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seeking legislative action on a revised COVID-19 relief package when members returned to Washington this week.

"I'm glad that House leadership listened to our request to vote on a renewed relief package to help Americans who continue to struggle during this pandemic," said Rep. Angie Craig. "This updated package includes provisions of my legislation to provide a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for our hardest-hit small businesses, my bill to include all dependents in additional direct payments and the RESTAURANTS Act, which I cosponsored to help our restaurants stay afloat."

The Updated Heroes Act includes needed resources to protect lives, livelihoods and the life of our democracy over the coming months. Among the bill's many provisions, it includes:

  • Strong support for small businesses by improving the Paycheck Protection Program to serve the smallest businesses and struggling nonprofits, providing hard-hit businesses with second loans, and delivering targeted assistance for the struggling restaurant industry and independent live venue operators.
  • Additional assistance for airline industry workers, extending the highly successful Payroll Support Program to keep airline industry workers paid.
  • More funds to bolster education and child care, with $225 billion for education – including $182 billion for K-12 schools and nearly $39 billion for postsecondary education – and $57 billion to support child care for families.
  • Support for our heroes through $436 billion to provide one year's worth of assistance to state, local, territorial and tribal governments who desperately need funds to pay vital workers like first responders and health workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs.
  • Funding for testing, tracing and treatment through $75 billion for coronavirus testing, contact tracing and isolation measures, with special attention to the disparities facing communities of color, ensuring every American can access free coronavirus treatment, and supporting hospitals and providers. The updated bill also includes $28 billion for procurement, distribution and education campaigns for a safe and effective vaccine.
  • Additional direct payments, cushioning the economic blow of the coronavirus crisis with a more robust second round of economic impact payments of $1,200 per taxpayer and $500 per dependent.