Cleaver provides details on Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

(From Fifth District Congressman Emanuel Cleaver)

As federal, state, and local governments continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, I want to update you on a major piece of legislation passed by Congress this week.

Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act

This week, I flew to Washington, D.C. to vote on H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, which I supported and was signed into law by the President.

The bill will provide over $350 billion in small business loans, $10 billion in small business grants, $75 billion for hospitals and health care providers across the country, and $25 billion to ramp up testing infrastructure critical to reopening the economy.

Some provisions from the bill I would like to note:

-For small businesses: It strengthens the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) by providing $310 billion in additional funding

-$30 billion is reserved for community-based lenders, small banks and credit unions, while another 

-$30 billion will be guaranteed for medium-sized banks and credit unions. This is critical to helping small businesses in underserved rural and urban communities receive the funding they need and deserve

-We were also able to secure an additional $50 billion in small business lending through SBA disaster loans, totaling over $350 billion in small business loans.

-Another $10 billion wil be given to small businesses through SBA disaster grants, which will not have to be repaid.

Included in the small business lending are strong protections to ensure our nation’s famers have access to this vital assistance. American farmers have been crushed by trade wars and now a global pandemic, so it was critical we enabled farmers to receive assistance.

For hospitals and health care workers: The bill provides $75 billion to ensure frontline health care workers can obtain life-saving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hospitals can keep their doors open. 

The Administration has also agreed to significantly lower the interest rate on advance payments, lengthen the repayment schedule, and distribute payments from general revenues rather than the Hospital Insurance Fund.

For American workers and the economy: Congress has secured $25 billion for testing, which is critical to reopening the economy and resuming our lives.

While I’m frustrated we were unable to include funding to support our state and local governments, I will continue fighting to have that included in the next stimulus package. 

Our EMS, police, firefighters, health care, and other critical state and local workers are putting their lives in danger every day to keep our communities safe and functioning. The least we can do is provide them the funding and resources needed to safely do their jobs.

Coronavirus Update

As of this writing, the United States has over 896,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with over 50,400 Americans dying from this terrible virus.

In Missouri, we currently have over 6,000 cases, with over 1,000 cases confirmed in the Fifth District of Missouri.

As you may already know, Cass and Clay Counties have moved their stay-at-home expiration dates up to May 3, while Kansas City has maintained its May 15 stay-at-home deadline. If you live in Cass or Clay County, but work in Kansas City, you should follow the guidelines for Kansas City.

Resources

Coronavirus Information

Check the status of your Economic Impact Payment

File for unemployment benefits
Small Businesses can apply for emergency disaster loans

Centers For Disease Control (CDC)

Missouri Department of Health

Missouri’s 24-hour COVID-19 Hotline: 877-435-8411

Email me if you’re having coronavirus-related issues

Or call and leave a message at my Kansas City office: 816-842-4545
(We will contact you as soon as possible, and we thank you for your patience)

Stay Home. Stay Safe. Save Lives

For the sake of your family, friends, and fellow Missourians, please stay home unless you are an essential worker or must go out to get medications or groceries. Coronavirus is similar to Dracula: he can only come inside if you invite him in. By staying inside, you protect yourself and the individuals who are most vulnerable from the deadly virus. Together we will get through this, but we are only as strong as our weakest link, so please follow social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home ordinances.

As I continue to push for more funding to support our essential workers, hospitals, and small businesses, I will continue to keep you apprised of the work of Congress. Until next update, please be safe.