Congressman Cleaver Supports Emergency Coronavirus Appropriations Bill To Bring Relief To Missouri Hospitals and Small Businesses

April 23, 2020
Press Release

(Washington, D.C.) – Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 266, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, with United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) voting in favor of the legislation. 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 needed to reopen the country. It will now go to the President's desk to be signed into law immediately.

"As another 4.4 million workers filed jobless claims this week, 1 in 6 Americans have now lost their jobs during the coronavirus pandemic," said Congressman Cleaver. "While no bill of this magnitude is perfect, It is impossible to understate the extent of the challenge we're facing as a nation, and today's legislation is critical to helping small businesses bridge the gap until we can begin to reopen the economy. Now, Congress must immediately begin discussions to bring relief to state and local governments, provide additional food assistance to struggling families, stimulate the economy through investments in infrastructure, fund the Postal Service, and provide additional lending to small businesses in urban and rural communities."

H.R. 266 follows the path set by the bipartisan CARES Act with significant support:

  • 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 and another $30 billion will be guaranteed for medium-sized banks and credit unions, which will help small businesses in underserved rural and urban communities receive the funding they need to survive.
    • Democrats 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 will 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 that our nation's farmers have access to this vital assistance.
  • For hospitals and health care workers: The bill provides $75 billion to ensure hospitals and frontline health care workers can obtain life-saving Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The Administration has also agreed to significantly lower the interest rate on advance payments, lengthen the repayment schedule, and distribute payments from general revenues not 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.

Unfortunately, the Administration refused to provide more relief for state and local governments who are on the front lines of this crisis and desperately need an infusion of funding to ensure EMTs, firefighters, police officers, teachers, and other critical workers have the resources needed to help us through this crisis. However, as Congress immediately begins discussion on the next phase of coronavirus relief, Congressman Cleaver will fight to have this funding included in the next package.

"It's extremely frustrating that the Administration and Senate Majority Leader would rather allow our states and cities to go bankrupt than help them through this crisis," Congressman Cleaver said. "Our health care, EMS, police, fire, and other critical workers are putting their lives in danger every day to protect our citizens, but we can't provide them funding and resources needed to safely do their jobs? That's wrong, and something Democrats must insist be included in the next relief package."

Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.