Press Releases

For Immediate Release

May 15, 2020

Contact: Jeremy Tittle, Jeremy.Tittle@mail.house.gov,  (202) 897-7545

Rep. Carbajal Statement on House Passage of The Heroes Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Congressman Salud Carbajal issued the following statement after voting in support of The Heroes Act (H.R. 6800), a coronavirus relief bill that builds on previous coronavirus response efforts by providing additional funding for testing and tracing measures, key support for frontline workers, and direct assistance for individuals and families:

“The Heroes Act provides more federal assistance to those who need it most: families, frontline essential workers, small businesses, and state and local governments. I’m proud to honor our essential workers and their loved ones by voting yes on this bill,” said Rep. Carbajal. “It’s unconscionable that cash-strapped communities have largely been forced to fend for themselves in the face of a global pandemic. That’s why I fought to ensure funding appropriated in this bill will be disbursed to states, counties, and cities of all sizes, and that local governments are granted flexibility to use those funds to replace revenue lost due to the coronavirus in order to maintain essential safety net services.”

Background:

The Heroes Act is the fifth coronavirus relief package passed by Congress and supported by Congressman Carbajal. This final legislative package includes many items that Congressman Carbajal advocated for based on input he has received from Central Coast residents. The Heroes Act adds to previous coronavirus relief legislation in several ways: 

• State and Local Funding: Provides state and local governments on the frontlines of this crisis desperately needed funding to cover coronavirus-related outlays and revenue losses including an estimated total of $741,052,890 that would be directed to cities and counties in the 24^th Congressional District.  The funding will go towards pay for our health care and essential workers who keep us safe and are in danger of losing their jobs. 
• Hazard Pay: Establishing a $200 billion Heroes’ fund to ensure that essential workers across the country receive the hazard pay they deserve.
• Testing: Commits $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.
• Direct Assistance: 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.
• Paycheck Protection Program (PPP): Strengthens crucial funding for small businesses 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.
• Health Security: Provides COBRA subsidies and a special enrollment period in the ACA exchanges for those without insurance.
• Housing Assistance: Provides $175 billion in new supports to assist renters and homeowners make monthly rent, mortgage and utility payments and other housing-related costs.
• Food Security: Provides a 15 percent increase to the maximum SNAP benefit, additional funding for nutrition programs that help families put food on the table, and support for farmers who donate fresh produce to food banks. 
• Presumptive Occupational Illness: Establishes COVID-19 as a presumptive occupational illness for frontline federal employees whose job duties are essential and require contact with the public, patients or co-workers.
• Bureau of Prisons COVID-19 Response: Provides $200 million to the Bureau of Prisons to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus in Federal prisons, including the Lompoc Federal Correctional Complex.  These funds can be used for medical testing and services, personal protective equipment, hygiene supplies and services, and sanitation services.Election Security: Protects the life of our democracy with new resources to ensure safe elections, an accurate Census, and preserve the Postal Service.

Click here to view Congressman Carbajal’s recorded statement following the vote.

Rep. Salud Carbajal represents California’s 24th Congressional District, encompassing all of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, and part of Ventura County. 

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