House Passes New Democrat Coalition-Supported CARES Act
Today, the House passed the CARES Act, comprehensive legislation to deliver a bold and urgent response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This bill will provide unprecedented emergency funding to help stop the pandemic, give immediate assistance to families and impacted businesses, and direct support to our local and state governments and health care providers who are on the frontlines of this pandemic.
Last week, the NDC released preliminary principles and priorities based on the input from NDC Coalition Members to provide more immediate public health and economic responses to the coronavirus pandemic. The recommendations help address the growing economic challenges being felt nationwide and mitigate the long-term economic impacts of the coronavirus.
A significant majority of these NDC recommendations were included in the CARES Act, including direct payments to individuals and families; expanded unemployment compensation funding, benefits, and eligibility; forbearance on certain federally-backed loans for students and homeowners; support for small businesses, including to continue paying their workers; funding to address medical and person protection equipment shortages; and robust support for health care providers, frontline health workers and first responders, and states and local governments.
“The coronavirus crisis is creating serious disruptions in everyday life and significant economic impacts. It’s important to take bold and urgent action to protect the health, safety and economic well-being of the American people,” said NDC Chair Derek Kilmer (WA-06). “I am proud that many of the policy priorities put forward by the New Democrat Coalition were included in this legislation. These ideas will help ensure that American families, students, employers, health care providers, and communities have the resources and assistance they need in these difficult times.
A full list of the NDC priorities included in the bill can be found here.
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