Washington, DC —Today, Rep. Ron Kind voted for an emergency COVID-19 relief package to provide critical relief for Wisconsin workers, small businesses, farmers, health care providers, and families. Additionally, the legislation lays the groundwork for a smooth COVID-19 vaccine rollout and a robust economic recovery. This legislation passed the House of Representatives with broad bipartisan support.
“The COVID-19 crisis has created hardships for so many Wisconsin families, workers, and small businesses. While there’s light at the end of the tunnel as COVID-19 vaccines continue to be distributed across the country, people are currently facing serious economic challenges,” said Rep. Ron Kind. “While I’m glad to see Congress come together and work across the aisle to pass this legislation, this process was unnecessarily painful, and relief for Wisconsinites is long overdue. Ensuring Wisconsinites have a lifeline as this crisis continues is my top priority, which is why I voted in support of this crucial legislation today. I will continue fighting to ensure families across the state have some certainty during these deeply uncertain times.”
Rep. Kind fought hard to ensure this relief package included his “Paycheck Protection for Producers Act” to expand access for family farmers when qualifying for the paycheck protection program; $300 million in new grants to fund rural broadband buildout and $65 million to complete broadband coverage maps; and $15 billion grant for music venues harmed by the pandemic such as the Pablo Center in Eau Claire.
In addition, this relief package includes provisions to:
- Invest roughly $50 billion for testing, contact tracing, and vaccine procurement and distribution
- Provide $600 stimulus checks per person, including $600 for eligible dependent children
- Provide $300 supplemental unemployment benefits and extend all emergency unemployment programs through March
- Deliver $9 billion in additional funding for struggling health care providers
- Provide direct support for family farmers whose markets continue to be hampered by COVID-19
- Provide $10 billion in emergency funds for child care providers impacted by COVID-19
- Provide $10 billion in direct funding for the USPS
- Include $325 billion in small business relief, including $284 billion for first and second forgivable PPP loans
- Deliver $25 billion in critically needed rental assistance for families struggling to stay in their homes and an extension of the eviction moratorium
- Dedicate $400 million for a dairy donation program to provide dairy products to food banks and other nonprofits
Rep. Kind encourages anyone who needs assistance to contact his office at 888-442-8040.
