House Passes $3 Trillion COVID-19 Relief Bill

WASHINGTON, D. C.—Even though it’s unlikely to advance in the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate, the Democrat-controlled U.S. House of Representatives on Friday approved a $3 trillion coronavirus package that supporters hoped would open negotiations for more COVID-19 relief.

Among other things, the bill dubbed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (HEROES Act) would provide $500 billion in aid to states, $375 billion to local governments, and a second round of direct taxpayer payments of up to $1,200 per adult and $1,200 for each dependent up to three. The bill passed in a 208 to 199 vote.

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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the measure as an “offer on the table,” and said Democrats are "open to negotiation” to pass a fifth bill to help Americans whose health and livelihoods have been jeopardized by the pandemic.

“Families know that hunger doesn’t take a pause,” Pelosi said Thursday. “Not having a job doesn’t take a pause. Not being able to pay the rent doesn’t take a pause. The hardship of it all, losing a loved one or having someone in your family sick, it just doesn’t take a pause. So, members of the Congress and the House and Senate need to come together.”

But Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said House measure would undertake “a far left transformation" of the country, and American workers don’t need it.

“They just need a path back to the historically prosperous and optimistic moment that they had built for themselves until about 12 weeks ago," McConnell continued in a Senate floor speech. “They need us to get rid of obstacles that might stand in their way.”

Although some Democratic members of the House, like Niles Democratic Rep. Tim Ryan, said they felt the measure didn’t go far enough, most backed it anyway.

Ryan said he was disappointed the bill didn’t include more direct payments to Americans while the economy recovers, but he applauded its expanded funding for local governments and for COVID-19 testing, tracing and treatment. Ryan sad the bill would provide $32.9 billion to help Ohio communities pay firefighters, police, first responders, and healthcare workers during the crisis.

He noted it would also extend weekly $600 federal unemployment payments through next January, increase monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits by 15%, and provide $175 billion in new supports to help renters and homeowners for rent, mortgage and utility payments.

In a House of Representatives floor speech, Ryan criticized Republicans for opposing a bill that would help the working class after approving tax cuts several years ago that largely went to the wealthy.

“Our economy needs help with historic levels of unemployment baring down,” said Toledo Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur. "The HEROES Act will provide a bridge of support to save lives and the livelihoods of families, workers, hospitals, and small businesses on the frontlines.

In a House of Representatives floor speech delivered from behind a mask, Columbus Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty praised the bill for creating a “heroes fund” that would give frontline workers the hazard pay they deserve and its inclusion of bill language to “put a moratorium on consumer debt collection, to open up forgivable loans to more nonprofits and to make sure the smallest businesses can get a PPE loan, to name a few.”

House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy criticized the bill as a political measure that contains numerous non-COVID related Democratic priorities, including election law changes, federal funding for Planned Parenthood, and allowing cannabis businesses to use conventional banks.

“Much of this partisan bill has nothing to do with COVID-19, or the current crisis facing so many Americans,” Cincinnati Republican Rep. Brad Wenstrup said on the House of Representatives floor.

Members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus co-founded by Champaign County GOP Rep. Jim Jordan decried it for “promoting progressive politics over practical solutions." A statement from the organization criticized the bill for including “a frivolous $40 million for bio-surveillance of wildlife and another $10 million for the National Endowment for the Arts.”

“Only once we forge the path to reopen our country swiftly and safely will the challenges facing American families, workers, and job creators be lifted,” the group’s statement said.

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