In the News

EASTHAMPTON — Two of the region’s powerful politicians played pivotal roles on a pair of COVID-19 measures — a $484 billion aid package and the creation of a subcommittee to oversee coronavirus spending — approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday.

U.S Rep Richard Neal, D-Springfield, led House debate on the aid package that will see $321 billion shore up the empty “Paycheck Protection Program” meant for small businesses, $75 billion in emergency aid for hospitals, $60 billion in economic disaster loans for small businesses and $25 billion for coronavirus testing.

Earlier in the day, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, led debate in the House Rules Committee over the creation of a new subcommittee to provide oversight on more than $2 trillion in coronavirus aid. The House voted along party lines.

Speaking ahead of the relief package’s passage, Neal said that when negotiations over the legislation began, the Senate sent an “insufficient proposal” that Democrats improved by adding more funding for hospitals and testing for the virus.

“The measure that Democrats fought for will now bring real relief to the American people and prioritizes resources to combat this virus,” Neal said from the House floor.

The bill was the result of two weeks of negotiations among Democratic and Republican lawmakers, as well as the White House. As the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Neal has been closely involved in negotiations over the various stimulus bills that have been passed thus far.

Though Democrats had initially signaled that aid for local and state governments was a priority in this bill, that money will have to wait for the next relief bill. Neal signaled that would be a priority in the next stimulus package, as would more money for states to deal with unemployment claims and another round of stimulus payments to families.

“Our next relief package must be grounded in the understanding that restarting our economy can only happen when Americans are healthy,” Neal said. “For our part, the Ways and Means Committee will prioritize funding for hospitals and assistance for those on the frontlines.”

But Republican leaders have said they are in no hurry to pass another package after this one. Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was hesitant to send federal aid to states, suggesting that some should declare bankruptcy instead.

Millions of Americans are still waiting for their first $1,200 stimulus payments. Some, such as undocumented immigrants, will receive no payment. About 26.4 million Americans have filed for unemployment since mid-March.

Some have criticized the federal government’s response to the crisis, including Neal’s Democratic opponent in the 1st Congressional District, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse. In a phone interview Thursday, Morse said that financial aid has currently prioritized institutions instead of workers.

“It’s not trickling down to help actual workers in our communities,” he said of stimulus efforts thus far. Morse added that direct payments to Americans should be recurring. “A one-time $1,200 payment isn’t going to cut it for the vast majority of Americans,” he said.

Speaking as a mayor, Morse said that he was dismayed that Democrats didn’t use their leverage to secure money for state and local governments struggling amid the crisis.

“Mayors are thinking about our teachers, our police officers, our firefighters, our Department of Public Works employees,” Morse said. “There are basic core services we need to provide.”

Neal’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment on Morse’s criticism.

Oversight committee

As the federal government’s stimulus packages grew, the House Rules Committee worked Thursday to establish a subcommittee to provide oversight of where that money goes.

That effort was shepherded by McGovern, who led debate in the Rules Committee. Speaking from the floor, McGovern said that thus far, Congress has provided more than $2 trillion to help small businesses, hospitals and health care workers, and to expand testing and access to an affordable vaccine when it is developed.

“We need to make sure these resources are going where Congress intended,” McGovern said. “That they are helping struggling Americans and small businesses without any rampant fraud or abuse, and that companies aren’t taking part in price gouging or profiteering. That’s what this select subcommittee on the coronavirus is all about.”