Press Releases

Springfield, MA – Today, Congressman Richard E. Neal marked 100 days since the House passed The Heroes Act, an urgently needed bill to secure the strategic testing, tracing and treatment required to reopen safely, to provide strong support for our frontline heroes in state and local government, and to put money in the pockets of the American people.

Yet, Senate Republicans and the Trump Administration continue to block this critical relief, presenting insufficient proposals and weak, unworkable executive actions that fail to meet the needs of hard-working Americans – and in those 100 days of delay, 4.2 million more Americans have become infected for a total of over 5.6 million, more than 89,000 more have died for a total of 176,000 tragic deaths and tens of millions remain unemployed.  

“As America faces the worst economic and health crisis in our history, Massachusetts families are hurting and are looking to our government to deliver the resources they need to protect their lives and livelihoods,” said Congressman Neal.  “As the Republicans’ deadly, 100 days of inaction continues, the coronavirus is spiraling out of control.  Democrats have come to the table willing to compromise, but President Trump and Senate Republicans refuse to do even the bare minimum needed to defeat the virus and protect struggling families.  On behalf of my constituents, Massachusetts families, seniors, veterans and small business owners, I call upon Leader McConnell and the Trump Administration to get serious about the needs of working families, stop the unnecessary delays and reach an agreement that puts workers and families first.” 

Among the strong solutions to combat the coronavirus crisis that House Democrats delivered in The Heroes Act 100 days ago, include:

• Commits another $75 billion for the testing, tracing and treatment we need in order to have a science-based path to safely reopen our country and helping ensure that every American can access free coronavirus treatment.
• Provides strong support for our heroes with nearly $1 trillion for state, local, territorial and tribal governments on the frontlines who desperately need funds to pay the health care workers, police, fire, transportation, EMS, teachers and other vital workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs.  The Heroes Act will also establish a $200 billion Heroes’ fund to ensure that essential workers receive hazard pay.  
• Puts money in the pockets of workers with a second round of direct payments to families up to $6,000 per household, new payroll protection measures to keep 60 million workers connected with their jobs and extending weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January.

Ensures further support for Americans, including for:

• Housing security – with $175 billion in new supports to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related costs.
• Food security – with a 15 percent increase to the maximum SNAP benefit and additional funding for nutrition programs that help families put food on the table.  
• Health security – with COBRA subsidies and a special enrollment period in the ACA exchanges for those without insurance.
• Workplace security – requiring OSHA to ensure that all workplaces develop science-based infection control plans and preventing employers from retaliating against workers who report problems.
• Supports small businesses by strengthening 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.
• Support for schools, students, teachers and families, with billions in urgently-needed funding that experts say is needed to ensure that schools have the resources to safely reopen, whether with virtual, hybrid or in-person instruction, so that children can learn and parents can get back to work. 
• Protects the life of our democracy with new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate Census, and preserve the Postal Service.                                                                                                                                         

“The coronavirus continues to accelerate and inflict staggering pain on Massachusetts families and the American people,” continued Congressman Neal.  “As elected leaders, it is our responsibility to meet the magnitude of this moment and work together to address the crisis facing hard-working Americans.  Republicans have already wasted 100 days, we cannot afford to wait any more.” 

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