Kildee: Senate Must Pass Relief Bill for Michigan Families and Small Businesses

WASHINGTON—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, today spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives about the need for an additional coronavirus relief package to support Michigan workers, families, seniors and small businesses during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

"This pandemic is a health and economic crisis for all Americans. Congress must put partisan politics aside and work together to pass much-needed coronavirus relief. The House is willing to negotiate. I urge the Senate come to the table and help struggling families and small businesses," said Congressman Kildee.

In May, the U.S. House of Representatives passedThe Heroes Act. Then again in October, Kildee supported, and the House passed, an updated version ofThe Heroes Act. These bills would:

• Puts money in the pockets of workers with a second round of direct payments to families, up to $6,000 per household, as well as extended unemployment insurance benefits. These provisions were included from Congressman Kildee's Strengthening Unemployment Insurance for Coronavirus Impacted Workers and Students Act.
• Provides strong support for our heroes with nearly $1 trillion for state, local, territorial and tribal governments who desperately need funds to pay the health care workers, police, fire, transportation, EMS, teachers and other vital workers who keep us safe. The Heroes Act will also establish a $200 billion Heroes' fund to ensure that essential workers receive hazard pay.
• Supports Families and Children, expands eligibility and size of the EITC and CTC, Congressman Kildee introduced H.R. 3157, the Working Families Tax Relief Act to expand the EITC and the CTC that have already been successful and effective at lifting many American families out of poverty, helping to grow the middle class and put money in the pockets of working people.
• Increased Testing: another $75 billion for the testing, tracing and treatment we need in order to have a science-based path to safely reopen our country.
• Supports small businesses bystrengthening the Payroll Protection Program to ensure that it reaches underserved communities, nonprofits of all sizes and types and responds flexibly to small businesses by providing $10 billion for Covid-19 emergency grants through the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program.
• Prevents Water Shutoffs: $1.5 billion for consumers to have affordable water in their homes to prevent shutoffs. On March 11, Congressman Kildee wrote a letter to House Leadership asking for funding be included to prevent water shutoffs.

Despite action in the House months ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republicans have refused to act.

A video of Congressman Kildee's full speech today can be viewed here.