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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congressman Paul D. Tonko voted today in the House of Representatives to advance a $484 billion interim emergency funding package that will provide vital assistance to small businesses and protect Americans with added aid to hospitals, healthcare workers and testing. The bill was passed by a vote of 388 – 5.

“Across the nation, we have heard stories of individuals, hospitals, businesses and alike in dire circumstances and in desperate need of assistance,” Congressman Tonko said. “Our stimulus package had to speak to the urgency of that need as well as the importance of ensuring a comprehensive and effective response. My colleagues and I fought hard to secure critical funding for our hospitals, health care providers and testing because we cannot defeat this pandemic unless we provide our frontline workers with the resources they need. While there is still far more to be done, including increasing funding for our state and local governments, I pledge to continue working to ensure our Capital Region, state and nation are supported throughout this crisis.”

The legislation provides support:

• For small businesses by strengthening the Paycheck Protection Program with $310 billion in additional funding, with $30 billion reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions and $30 billion for medium-sized banks and credit unions. Small business will also receive expanded support beyond PPP with $50 billion for SBA disaster lending, translating into more than $350 billion in loans, and $10 billion in SBA disaster grants. Strong protections have also been secured to ensure that American farmers have access to this vital assistance, for which Tonko advocated.
• For hospitals and health care workers with $75 billion to provide resources to the frontlines, including Personal Protective Equipment. The Administration has also agreed to key improvements to be made in CARES 2, including significantly lowering the interest rate on advance payments, lengthening the repayment schedule and distributing payments from general revenues, not the Hospital Insurance Fund.
• For all Americans with $25 billion was secured for testing, which is the key to reopening the economy and resuming livelihoods and economic activity. The Administration has agreed to a national strategic testing policy that will focus on increasing domestic testing capacity, including testing supplies.

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