The Heroes Act Just Passed the House

Dear Friends,

Yesterday, my colleagues and I in the House voted to approve sweeping legislation that delivers the vital assistance our communities urgently need to face down this crisis. The Heroes Act delivers a paycheck boost for our frontline workers, strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program, puts money into the pockets of the vast majority of Americans and makes critical investments in the pillars of American society—schools, hospitals, infrastructure and more—so we can weather this storm, ramp up our economic safely and follow the wisdom and guidance of a science-based approach.

The Heroes Act provides more than $1.3 billion in crisis-response aid to New York’s Capital Region and a combined $49.5 billion to New York State overall.

I have heard from teachers, firefighters, nursing home workers and many others who are showing up each day and working for those who need assistance, oftentimes without the protective equipment and resources necessary to avoid risking their own lives. Many have shared stories of the challenges they have faced, and more than a few have said that, any day, the funding necessary to keep them on the job and working to serve and protect the rest of us is about to run out.

My friend Robert Mengel, President of the Albany Permanent Professional Fire Fighters Association, shared this:

“The women and men of the Albany Fire Department – and fire fighters across the county – are front and center in the fight against the coronavirus. We collectively answer the call each time an alarm rings – and we need the U.S. Congress to respond to our alarm.”

Mariana Brunell, a 2nd grade teacher in Troy, had this to say about the need for federal assistance:

“I cannot imagine what this will look like next year if we do not get more funding for school districts in need. Cutting budgets and not providing money is the same as cutting out a child’s educational right to learn. It is not fair that children who need the most support are being left behind.” 

We can fight about the politics when this crisis has passed. Right now nearly 2,000 Americans are still dying every single day from COVID-19. This weekend we will surpass a death toll of 90,000 souls lost to this devastating illness. Congress must take bold steps forward now to get local communities the tools they need to stem the tide and even gain the upper hand. This is the only way to protect and support our frontline workers in a way that is responsive to the needs of our families and our communities.

The Heroes act gets this tough job done, delivering desperately-needed support for our hospitals and our state, local, territorial and tribal governments, allocating funds so they can do urgently needed testing, tracing and treatment. It also establishes a Heroes’ Fund to secure hazard pay for workers who are risking their lives to save others, puts a second round $1,200 in direct payments into the pocket of Americans who need it, and extends the $600 weekly federal unemployment benefit through January 2021.

There are many other smart, practical crisis-response provisions that I am personally very proud to have authored and worked to include in this historic legislation. These comprise of:

• Supporting local hospitals by boosting payments over the next three years that will help strengthen our local health care infrastructure and offset COVID-related expenses.
• Protections for households facing possible water, gas or electricity shutoff, ensuring Americans don't lose essential utility services due to inability to pay during this national crisis.
• The Scientific Integrity Act, legislation that insulates public science and scientists from political meddling or retaliation. Work on this legislation started in 2016 and garnered significant bipartisan support, including numerous Republican cosponsors, when it was passed by the full House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.
• The COVID-19 Mental Health Research Act, legislation that would provide $200 million to fund research to study the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on the mental health of Americans, and in particular, front line health care providers.
• The Medicaid Reentry Act, legislation that allows states to activate Medicaid coverage for individuals transitioning out of incarceration 30 days prior to release, which will help to finance care for COVID-related early releases while improving transitions to community care for those struggling with mental health and substance use disorder.  

Our nation is at a crossroads in our history when we can once again choose to act in our own interest or flounder in the politics of division and opportunism. I believe this moment calls upon us to offer  bold leadership, setting aside the same old tired politics and party lines and speaking honestly about the problems before us. In short, we must show the same strength of character and unity the American people have shown throughout this crisis. The investments we intend to make through the Heroes Act are the road map we need to prevent a far more disastrous, more deadly outcome for our region and our nation. 

Just as we came together with the $2 trillion CARES Act, I know Congress will succeed in advancing this vital legislation that keeps our essential workers on the job and gives Americans the assurance and the ability to weather this storm.