After weeks of legislative hurdles and partisan gridlock, the House of Representatives passed additional funding for the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), following suit of the upper chamber, which passed the bill on Tuesday. The $484 billion dollar package includes $310 billion for small business relief, plus funding for hospitals and testing.
House votes 388-5 to send Trump the $483 billion COVID-19 aid bill that includes funding for forgivable small business loans (Paycheck Protection Program), hospitals and testing. pic.twitter.com/1U27LHYWix
— Jennifer Shutt (@JenniferShutt) April 23, 2020
NEWS: The U.S. House, 388-5, voted to pass the $484 billion interim emergency spending package. It is now cleared for the President's signature.
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) April 23, 2020
Bill includes $310bn to replenish the PPP, $60bn for EIDL, $75bn for hospitals/providers, $25bn for testing
Happening Now: U.S. House vote on $484 Billion Coronavirus Economic Response Aid Package - LIVE on C-SPAN pic.twitter.com/4cpeVqGiZR
— CSPAN (@cspan) April 23, 2020
House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy and GOP Whip Steve Scalise spared Democrats no criticism after Speaker Pelosi held the funding hostage for weeks, costing many Americans their livelihoods:
4.4 million. That’s how many Americans lost their jobs in the last week—the exact time span that Democrats let the Paycheck Protection Program run out of money.
— Kevin McCarthy (@GOPLeader) April 23, 2020
It didn’t have to be this way. These are Pelosi Layoffs.
4.4 million Americans lost their jobs last week while Pelosi blocked funds for the Paycheck Protection Program.
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) April 23, 2020
This lifeline should have never been cut off. Today we will replenish it—but some small businesses may never recover from the completely avoidable damage done by Dems. pic.twitter.com/sKU9KHS4Fg
Republicans called for an extension of the #PPP TWO weeks ago.
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) April 23, 2020
Instead of acting then, @SpeakerPelosi and @SenSchumer opted into partisan grandstanding and blocked America’s small businesses from receiving the added support they need.
Two weeks later, we're finally voting.
The House also passed a resolution to create a select committee to investigate and provide oversight for COVID-19, despite the GOP questioning the need for an additional oversight committee:
Hse ok's resolution to create a select cmte on coronavirus, 212-182. Vote took one hour and 29 minutes. Hse will now recess for about 15 minutes to clean the chamber. When the House reconvenes, it will vote to align with the Senate on the $484 bill coronavirus phase “3.5” bill
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) April 23, 2020
The relief bill finally passed the House and heads to President Trump’s desk:
#BREAKING: House passes $484 billion coronavirus relief package for small businesses, hospitals and expanded medical testing https://t.co/2o3DISx8LY pic.twitter.com/o4bABygfKU
— The Hill (@thehill) April 23, 2020
? The Paycheck Protection Program & Health Care Enhancement Act PASSED
— House Republicans (@HouseGOP) April 23, 2020
→ Next Stop: President @RealDonaldTrump’s desk pic.twitter.com/LzigOgCtlY
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